307:
84:
427:
ballast was iron cast into special shapes to sit just above the deadwood and between the floor timbers and the narrowest part of the hull above the keel was reinforced by strong cross timbers bolted through the sides. Such extensive use of iron was a novel feature at the time. Gower observed that conventional vessels were box-like and needed much movement of the rudder from side to side to preserve a steady course. When running fast, they often suffered total loss of steerage because the water failed "to close over the rudder" and left it in a "mere hole or vacuum in the water" (what we now call "
25:
299:
447:
290:. So Gower defended most of his ideas with an applications for patents, in which he expounded the physical theories he believed supported his innovations as well as describing the matters which he claimed to be original inventions. He then sought every opportunity of stalking the corridors of power and seeking contacts in high places. He proposed no innovation that did not make sound military or commercial sense.
560:. He gave a vivid description of traditional Naval punishments. He thought that these cruelties, so readily meted out to sailors just for disobedience, would be better applied to those on land who ill-treat, forge, rob and plunder the peaceable inhabitants of the country. His last article appeared on 18 May 1833 and addressed, among a number of topics, uselessness of our "colossal
564:". Twelve of these at anchor may be a stately sight, but what good is it to incarcerate 10,000 seamen in them for ten to fifteen years at a time? He concluded "Our colossal Navy is merely an object of magnificence, and show of power, without opposition in the present state of Europe". His words do have a certain resonance today.
567:
In his last book, published posthumously, Gower reflected on the gigantic advances made in the use of iron and steam. He noted this especially on the railroads where passengers and heavy freight travelled at the extraordinary velocity of thirty miles per hour. He thought that, because of the need for
426:
and the promotion of the novel ideas that he incorporated in them, occupied much of his life. The most original features of these vessels were their slab sides above, and the concave and convex sweeps of the hull, below the waterline, the Joints scarfed and bolted rather than chocked and treenailed,
498:
was generous in his praise. To Gower's chagrin, no order was forthcoming and he had to re-ship his cargo and join convoy for Lisbon on 27 August. The important question of what happened to change the decision of the
Company is, as yet, unresolved. Perhaps Gower put a gloss on the intention of the
262:
and colonies overseas. These newly recognised tasks required new designs of vessels and new opportunities for invention. Gower was among those who saw a vessel as a single entity in which all the parts, hull, rigging, sails and, in Gower's view, the crew, should relate to each other in ways
596:
He died, aged 65, on his estate 'Nova Scotia' near
Ipswich in July 1833. He left a widow, two sons and three daughters whom, because of his abhorrence of public schools, he had been teaching by his own peculiar methods. He lies in a vault on the North side of the church of St Mary Stoke,
439:, the tapering lines also allowed the rudder to hang abaft the general spread of the bottom. This "enlivened" the steering; yet the rudder was not vulnerable to damage when the vessel grounded. Except when she was to put about, a spoke of the helm either way could steer the
592:
crossed the
Atlantic under steam power alone. Gower was correct in pointing to the need for large bunkers, the former vessel had to burn furniture and fittings to complete her record-breaking voyage, while the latter arrived a day later with 200 tons still in her bunkers.
346:. He suggested that, to protect coastal traffic, cruisers be stationed along the coast in communication with signal stations to provide a concerted defence system. He proposed a form of vertical-vaned windmill; an eye shade; various ship's logs and a "double-barrelled"
536:
and, in supporting it, criticised the poor quality of local builders, comparing them very unfavourably with
Italian house builders. He cited in evidence draughty walls, leaky chimneys, insecure joists and the general paucity of decoration. He inveighed against
263:
appropriate to the task to be performed. This entailed giving greater consideration to designing the vessel as a whole, rather than leaving it to the various crafts to perform their respective works as best they could. Today, we would call his approach "
165:
from the main top to the deck, installing it overnight to surprise and please his captain. To his bitter dismay, his captain had it removed instantly saying he was sure the topmen would "use it for an improper purpose". Gower rose to chief mate of the
404:, just ten feet long, on which he mounted a barrel of water that drained to underwater by a curved pipe pointing aft. His twin floats achieved two miles per hour apparently without the need for power from sail or steam. He thus demonstrated water
399:
with 'spud wheels' that could propel the vessel by catching on the canal bottom. He saw that a combination of paddle wheels and spud wheels could take vessels over mud flats at various conditions of the tide. Gower also constructed a twin hulled
609:
and men of the sea. A stern disciplinarian, honest and guileless, Gower was "not free from the irritability of genius". He had at heart two passions; for the improvement of sailing vessels and the betterment of the lot of the common sailor.
470:, none present had been able to answer him and none thought to ask the inventor who was nearby. Later the Chairman of the Hon. East India Company summoned Gower to a meeting. Gower says that the chairman said that the Company would buy the
222:". Gower continued to the effect that almost any vessel, however badly it may sail, would probably get there in the end, if the wind and weather be fair. That, he thought, was not nearly good enough. He was among the first to bring
226:
to bear on naval architecture. His intention was to so improve ship design that, in whatever wind and weather, vessels would sail safely, speedily and economically with a crew properly accommodated and put to no unnecessary risk.
242:
outfitted them. Most innovation was confined to improvement of the hull, to increase carrying capacity of merchantmen and to improve the stability of warships as gun platforms. The results were broad, squat boxes,
531:
had to work and he deplored the cruel and heartless behaviour of many captains. His concern for the plight of the labouring classes extended to that of agricultural labourers. He applauded the formation of the
153:
providing the high roads of communication. He was noted for his spirit and ingenuity, his depth of knowledge of his ship and his skill as a ship model maker; unravelling stockings to obtain rigging materials.
354:
standing rigging to be made of wooden cylinders joined together by iron straps. He devised a method of keeping ships at proper distances by using the mast as a base line. He invented a mode of dropping a
511:, say her problems in shallow tidal harbours, or the strange way of her sailing, that killed off the Company's enthusiasm. Maybe there is still a note in some archive that could tell us why the
218:
were no exceptions. Richard Gower quoted a Mr
Mackonochie " ... in a mechanical point of view (a ship) is the feeblest, most inartificial, and unworkmanlike structure in the whole range of
458:
loaded cargo and sailed to join convoy in June 1801. While waiting for the convoy to assemble, Gower, ever the salesman, showed her off to the King and his party on the
315:
617:(Let he, who has won the palm, wear it) had been verified, the laurels that now shade others heads would have crowned the temples of Richard Hall Gower.”
322:
in 1817. There he devoted himself to the invention, patenting, design and building of a remarkable series of novel vessels including three vessels named
408:. He anticipated that a steam water pump, so contrived, could propel vessels without the need for paddles. He gives credit to Dr Franklin (probably
787:
Ship's Logs. A perpetual log or instruments for measuring a ship's way through the water and for ascertaining the rate of sailing at any time
435:
is proportionate to the wetted surface of the hull, and that a long narrow hull with a deep narrow keel makes for speed. In the case of the
613:
A Memoir about him concludes "Of him it may with truth be said that by those who knew him best, he was beloved the most; and if the motto
379:(he called it a "propeller") like an umbrella. He created a set of signals, that could be seen from all angles, using shapes instead of
230:
Traditionally, the design of hulls, rigging, sails and outfittings had been the provinces of several separate specialists. Commonly,
688:
412:) and a Mr Rumsay of Philadelphia for this idea and hoped that his little experiment would encourage others to pursue the notion.
270:
By this time, to be successful, innovations had to be well founded in good science, properly protected against plagiarism by
258:
recognised the need for fast vessels for scouting and for carrying messages and mail to and from the United
Kingdom and her
306:
247:
inefficient, with squalid accommodation for the crew and complicated rigging that entailed much very dangerous work aloft.
527:
under the initials R. G. or "John Splice". He expressed much concern about the cramped and squalid conditions under which
116:
576:' were unlikely to replace sail on long trade routes such as the trans-Atlantic crossing. He hoped that vessels of the
68:
46:
39:
463:
83:
859:
454:
Several attempts to arouse the interest of the Hon. East India
Company and the Royal Mail. These failed, and the
137:
carrying troops and invalids. He was a lively and observant lad. At the age of 16 he was promoted captain of the
342:, and a number of other inventions. He entered, but did not win, a competition for a novel form of lock for the
161:
at
Edmonton and, on rejoining ship, was dubbed "the young philosopher". Ever inventive, he once fitted a canvas
162:
794:
Remarks relative to the Danger attendant upon Convoy, with a
Proposition for the Better Protection of Commerce
849:
391:
that anticipated the design of the wheels used by steam paddlers many years later. He invented and built the
287:
762:
Prospectus for A Philosophical and
Experimental Enquiry into the Laws of Resistance of Non-elastic Fluids
479:
112:
854:
124:
359:
anchor with such accuracy that its end could be easily found and lifted. He devised a novel method of
714:
669:
844:
33:
629:, who had an inheritance of 32,000 Bombay Rupees. Together they had two sons and five daughters:
392:
338:
170:
and qualified as a captain. He returned to shore in 1783 to teach at Edmonton and to publish his
552:
His last letters expressed his concern about the hardships of sailor boys, the reasons for the
507:
report before forwarding it to the Company. Perhaps there was some aspect of the design of the
279:
174:
that eventually went into at least three editions. He designed, and applied for a patent for a
50:
633:
Richard Emptage Gower (1804), a railway clerk and father of Charlotte Chaplin and Walter Gower
533:
199:
178:
very similar to the logs employed to this day. He turned down the offer of the command of an
132:
839:
834:
538:
210:
and, thus, engineering to bear on the legends, traditions and practices of all the crafts.
195:
8:
639:
580:
type would ply across the Ocean until "more portable means shall be invented for putting
347:
211:
183:
142:
138:
120:
371:
a cable". He designed a long catamaran for forming a life raft and a form of floating
409:
343:
259:
589:
298:
150:
146:
395:, which carried up to 25 people and was virtually unsinkable. He proposed fitting
387:
needle to find North. He experimented with various designs of paddle wheel on the
808:
Original Observations regarding the inability of ships to perform their duty etc.
573:
475:
364:
356:
626:
602:
528:
432:
422:
388:
368:
324:
271:
16:
English mariner, philosopher, nautical inventor, entrepreneur and humanitarian
828:
625:
In 1803 Richard married Elizabeth Emptage (1773-1840), daughter of Commodore
523:
Captain Gower was a regular contributor, mainly on nautical subjects, to the
360:
244:
179:
175:
446:
380:
350:
to do two jobs at once. He suggested a non-elastic substitute for imported
157:
When he returned to England after his first three-year voyage, he studied
606:
581:
546:
459:
215:
108:
549:
was made in Italy and hoped that it would soon be made in Britain also.
561:
542:
428:
372:
255:
251:
219:
203:
158:
128:
96:
474:, provided she proved to be a fast-sailing vessel. At the instance of
585:
401:
275:
239:
231:
490:. She was a fast sloop of 383 tons (about twice the tonnage of the
264:
598:
569:
405:
384:
376:
319:
283:
235:
223:
207:
99:
philosopher, nautical inventor, entrepreneur, and humanitarian.
557:
553:
689:"George Emptage, Commodore, Bombay Marine, East India Company"
515:
did not become the first of a new generation of fast traders.
396:
771:
1st ed. (2nd ed. 1796, 3rd ed. Wilkie & Robinson, 1808).
351:
186:
and in the, then much needed, improvement of ship design.
751:
Suffolk Coast' (1933). Memories of an Old Ipswich Mariner
687:
Morris, Susan; Martin-Taylor, Michele (25 January 2017).
462:
in Christchurch Bay. Gower learned later that, although
250:
It was just about the turn of the century that both the
111:, physician and antiquarian, and Elizabeth, a sister of
769:
A Treatise on the Theory and Practice of Seamanship
740:
Suffolk Worthies and Persons of Note in East Anglia
707:
686:
664:
662:
182:to make ship models and to pursue his interest in
503:. Perhaps someone in the Admiralty tampered with
234:built the hulls of vessels and, after launching,
141:, where he waged active war with the lads of the
826:
659:
420:The design, building and sailing of the vessels
782:1807. Science Museum Library Cat. No. 629.12.
499:Chairman of the Company or on the opinion of
494:) and, according to Gower, the commander of
123:. He left school, "thankfully", to join the
310:The Transit (1800). Sheer & Body Plans
813:J. B-y (presumably James Bayley) (1833).
803:. The Naval Chronicle, Vol. V p. 22.
776:Original observations on Marine Surveying
367:and several contrivances for the "better
69:Learn how and when to remove this message
445:
305:
297:
189:
82:
32:This article includes a list of general
827:
785:Gower, R. H. (1792). Patent No. 1895.
383:. He also suggested using a floating
107:Richard was the youngest son of Rev.
534:East Sussex Agricultural Association
95:(1768–1833) was an English mariner,
18:
466:had asked many questions about the
13:
584:in motion". Just five years later
38:it lacks sufficient corresponding
14:
871:
764:, Egerton, Whitehall, p. 27.
680:
810:S. Piper, Albion Press, Ipswich.
314:Gower and his family removed to
23:
774:A separate Supplement contains
518:
415:
620:
556:in the Navy and the perils of
1:
652:
541:, small window panes and the
328:, a fly boat, two yachts the
431:"). He appreciated too that
7:
480:First Lord of the Admiralty
302:Two views of Transit (1800)
293:
115:, Member of Parliament for
10:
876:
815:Memoir: Richard Hall Gower
715:"CHAPLIN, Charlotte Child"
125:British East India Company
119:. He won a scholarship to
102:
87:Captain Richard Hall Gower
819:The Gentleman’s Magazine
615:Palmam qui meruit ferat
393:Landguard Fort Lifeboat
339:Landguard Fort Lifeboat
53:more precise citations.
860:English businesspeople
742:– No. 55 R. H. Gower.
451:
311:
303:
88:
821:vol. ii, p. 469.
801:A Treatise on Signals
799:Gower, R. H. (1801).
792:Gower, R. H. (1811).
778:and a description of
767:Gower, R. H. (1793).
753:: Capt. R. H. Gower.
449:
309:
301:
200:Industrial Revolution
190:Empirical Philosopher
86:
850:English philosophers
806:Gower, R. H. (1834)
719:suffolkartists.co.uk
674:suffolkartists.co.uk
648:Caroline (1813-1883)
645:Sarah Rozanna (1811)
601:, in the company of
369:nipping and stopping
208:scientific reasoning
204:experimental enquiry
640:Charles Foote Gower
545:. He described how
693:Emptages of Thanet
676:. Suffolk Artists.
486:was tried against
452:
312:
304:
288:merchant venturers
184:naval architecture
121:Winchester College
93:Richard Hall Gower
89:
855:English inventors
760:Mackonochie (?).
755:Suffolk Chronicle
744:Suffolk Chronicle
721:. Suffolk Artists
670:"GOWER, Caroline"
525:Suffolk Chronicle
410:Benjamin Franklin
316:Nova Scotia House
224:empirical science
79:
78:
71:
867:
731:
730:
728:
726:
711:
705:
704:
702:
700:
684:
678:
677:
666:
590:SS Great Western
501:Osprey's captain
245:hydrodynamically
212:Naval architects
74:
67:
63:
60:
54:
49:this article by
40:inline citations
27:
26:
19:
875:
874:
870:
869:
868:
866:
865:
864:
845:English sailors
825:
824:
735:
734:
724:
722:
713:
712:
708:
698:
696:
685:
681:
668:
667:
660:
655:
636:Elizbeth (1806)
623:
603:Master Mariners
521:
476:Earl St Vincent
418:
389:River Lee Canal
365:topgallant mast
296:
192:
172:Practical Guide
105:
75:
64:
58:
55:
45:Please help to
44:
28:
24:
17:
12:
11:
5:
873:
863:
862:
857:
852:
847:
842:
837:
823:
822:
811:
804:
797:
790:
783:
772:
765:
758:
747:
738:Anon. (1859).
733:
732:
706:
695:. Susan Morris
679:
657:
656:
654:
651:
650:
649:
646:
643:
637:
634:
627:George Emptage
622:
619:
574:steam paddlers
520:
517:
450:Transit (1809)
417:
414:
406:jet propulsion
295:
292:
274:and backed by
272:letters patent
191:
188:
131:in the vessel
104:
101:
77:
76:
31:
29:
22:
15:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
872:
861:
858:
856:
853:
851:
848:
846:
843:
841:
838:
836:
833:
832:
830:
820:
816:
812:
809:
805:
802:
798:
795:
791:
788:
784:
781:
777:
773:
770:
766:
763:
759:
756:
752:
748:
745:
741:
737:
736:
720:
716:
710:
694:
690:
683:
675:
671:
665:
663:
658:
647:
644:
641:
638:
635:
632:
631:
630:
628:
618:
616:
611:
608:
604:
600:
594:
591:
588:and Brunel's
587:
583:
579:
575:
571:
565:
563:
562:three-deckers
559:
555:
550:
548:
544:
540:
535:
530:
526:
516:
514:
510:
506:
502:
497:
493:
489:
485:
481:
477:
473:
469:
465:
461:
457:
448:
444:
442:
438:
434:
430:
425:
424:
413:
411:
407:
403:
398:
394:
390:
386:
382:
378:
377:drogue anchor
374:
370:
366:
362:
358:
353:
349:
345:
344:Regents Canal
341:
340:
335:
331:
327:
326:
321:
317:
308:
300:
291:
289:
285:
281:
277:
273:
268:
266:
261:
257:
253:
248:
246:
241:
237:
233:
228:
225:
221:
217:
213:
209:
205:
201:
197:
196:Age of Reason
187:
185:
181:
180:East Indiaman
177:
173:
169:
164:
163:speaking tube
160:
155:
152:
148:
144:
140:
136:
135:
130:
126:
122:
118:
114:
110:
100:
98:
94:
85:
81:
73:
70:
62:
59:December 2019
52:
48:
42:
41:
35:
30:
21:
20:
818:
814:
807:
800:
793:
786:
779:
775:
768:
761:
754:
750:
743:
739:
723:. Retrieved
718:
709:
697:. Retrieved
692:
682:
673:
624:
614:
612:
595:
577:
566:
551:
524:
522:
519:Humanitarian
512:
508:
504:
500:
495:
491:
487:
483:
471:
467:
455:
453:
440:
436:
421:
419:
416:Entrepreneur
397:canal barges
337:
333:
329:
323:
313:
269:
249:
229:
202:had brought
193:
171:
167:
156:
133:
106:
92:
90:
80:
65:
56:
37:
840:1833 deaths
835:1768 births
757:2 December.
699:4 September
642:(1807-1867)
621:Family life
607:shipwrights
568:large coal
547:plate glass
539:crown glass
460:Royal Yacht
216:shipwrights
113:John Strutt
109:Foote Gower
51:introducing
829:Categories
653:References
543:window tax
478:, now the
464:George III
429:cavitation
373:sea anchor
357:guess warp
280:government
256:Royal Mail
252:Royal Navy
240:sailmakers
176:Ship's log
159:navigation
129:midshipman
34:references
725:30 August
586:SS Sirius
402:catamaran
276:the Crown
260:dominions
232:shipyards
220:mechanics
97:empirical
749:Pseudo.
582:steamers
554:mutinies
529:Jack Tar
505:Osprey's
332:and the
294:Inventor
265:holistic
254:and the
198:and the
143:fore top
139:main top
91:Captain
780:Transit
746:7 June.
599:Ipswich
578:Transit
570:bunkers
513:Transit
509:Transit
492:Transit
484:Transit
472:Transit
468:Transit
456:Transit
441:Transit
437:Transit
423:Transit
385:compass
361:fidding
348:capstan
325:Transit
320:Ipswich
284:patrons
236:riggers
147:shrouds
103:Mariner
47:improve
558:convoy
496:Osprey
488:Osprey
482:, the
352:hempen
336:, the
330:Unique
117:Maldon
36:, but
381:flags
375:, or
334:Gower
168:Essex
151:stays
134:Essex
127:as a
727:2021
701:2019
433:drag
238:and
214:and
194:The
149:and
572:, '
318:at
286:or
267:".
831::
817:.
717:.
691:.
672:.
661:^
605:,
443:.
363:a
282:,
278:,
206:,
145:,
796:.
789:.
729:.
703:.
72:)
66:(
61:)
57:(
43:.
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.
_SFK_CCM_R_1966_7.jpg)