John Coates (naval architect)
Encyclopedia
John Francis Coates, OBE
(30 March 1922 – 10 July 2010) was a British naval architect
and academic best known for his work on the study of the construction of Ancient Greek
triremes. His research led to the construction of the first working replicas of triremes and gave a greater understanding of how they were built and used. He also worked extensively in the field of modern ship design, as well as performing research into the use of shipping in Northern Europe during the Bronze Age
.
Coates was born in Swansea
, the son of Joseph Coates, Professor of Chemistry at the University College of Swansea. He was educated at Clifton College
and The Queen's College, Oxford
and in 1943 joined the Royal Navy
. Although he was based with the Royal Corps of Naval Constructors
, he also spent some time on active service in the Norwegian Sea
. After the war, Coates remained in service and worked on a number of projects as a naval architect, including the County class destroyer
. He was appointed OBE
in 1955 and retired in 1979.
In 1982 he was approached by Professor John Morrison of Wolfson College, Oxford
to assist with research into the design of the trireme
. Together they and others founded the Trireme trust, and created a series of small scale replicas based on historical records and architectural theory. Their work eventually led to the construction of a full-scale replica, the Olympias
, by the Greek government in 1987. He also worked on the archaeological remains of Bronze Age sea-going ships in Northern Europe, establishing that vessels of considerable size and architectural sophistication capable of large-scale overseas travel existed in the era of 2030-1680 BC.
Coates married Jane Waymouth in 1954 and she predeceased him in 2008. He died on 10 July 2010, leaving two sons.
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
(30 March 1922 – 10 July 2010) was a British naval architect
Naval architecture
Naval architecture is an engineering discipline dealing with the design, construction, maintenance and operation of marine vessels and structures. Naval architecture involves basic and applied research, design, development, design evaluation and calculations during all stages of the life of a...
and academic best known for his work on the study of the construction of Ancient Greek
Ancient Greek
Ancient Greek is the stage of the Greek language in the periods spanning the times c. 9th–6th centuries BC, , c. 5th–4th centuries BC , and the c. 3rd century BC – 6th century AD of ancient Greece and the ancient world; being predated in the 2nd millennium BC by Mycenaean Greek...
triremes. His research led to the construction of the first working replicas of triremes and gave a greater understanding of how they were built and used. He also worked extensively in the field of modern ship design, as well as performing research into the use of shipping in Northern Europe during the Bronze Age
Bronze Age
The Bronze Age is a period characterized by the use of copper and its alloy bronze as the chief hard materials in the manufacture of some implements and weapons. Chronologically, it stands between the Stone Age and Iron Age...
.
Coates was born in Swansea
Swansea
Swansea is a coastal city and county in Wales. Swansea is in the historic county boundaries of Glamorgan. Situated on the sandy South West Wales coast, the county area includes the Gower Peninsula and the Lliw uplands...
, the son of Joseph Coates, Professor of Chemistry at the University College of Swansea. He was educated at Clifton College
Clifton College
Clifton College is a co-educational independent school in Clifton, Bristol, England, founded in 1862. In its early years it was notable for emphasising science in the curriculum, and for being less concerned with social elitism, e.g. by admitting day-boys on equal terms and providing a dedicated...
and The Queen's College, Oxford
The Queen's College, Oxford
The Queen's College, founded 1341, is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England. Queen's is centrally situated on the High Street, and is renowned for its 18th-century architecture...
and in 1943 joined the Royal Navy
Royal Navy
The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...
. Although he was based with the Royal Corps of Naval Constructors
Royal Corps of Naval Constructors
The Royal Corps of Naval Constructors is an institution of the Royal Navy and British Admiralty for training in naval architecture. It was established by Order in Council in August 1883, on the recommendation of the naval architect Sir William White. It still exists, as a branch of the Naval...
, he also spent some time on active service in the Norwegian Sea
Norwegian Sea
The Norwegian Sea is a marginal sea in the North Atlantic Ocean, northwest of Norway. It is located between the North Sea and the Greenland Sea and adjoins the North Atlantic Ocean to the west and the Barents Sea to the northeast. In the southwest, it is separated from the Atlantic Ocean by a...
. After the war, Coates remained in service and worked on a number of projects as a naval architect, including the County class destroyer
County class destroyer
The County class was a class of guided missile destroyers, the first such vessels built by the Royal Navy. Designed specifically around the Sea Slug anti-aircraft missile system, the primary role of these ships was area air-defence around the aircraft carrier task force in the nuclear-war...
. He was appointed OBE
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
in 1955 and retired in 1979.
In 1982 he was approached by Professor John Morrison of Wolfson College, Oxford
Wolfson College, Oxford
Wolfson College is a constituent college of the University of Oxford in England. Located in north Oxford along the River Cherwell, Wolfson is an all-graduate college with over sixty governing body fellows, in addition to both research and junior research fellows. It caters to a wide range of...
to assist with research into the design of the trireme
Trireme
A trireme was a type of galley, a Hellenistic-era warship that was used by the ancient maritime civilizations of the Mediterranean, especially the Phoenicians, ancient Greeks and Romans.The trireme derives its name from its three rows of oars on each side, manned with one man per oar...
. Together they and others founded the Trireme trust, and created a series of small scale replicas based on historical records and architectural theory. Their work eventually led to the construction of a full-scale replica, the Olympias
Olympias (trireme)
Olympias is a reconstruction of an ancient Athenian trireme and an important example of experimental archaeology.She was constructed from 1985 to 1987 by a shipbuilder in Piraeus. Finance came from the Hellenic Navy and donors such as Frank Welsh . The building was advised by the historians J. S....
, by the Greek government in 1987. He also worked on the archaeological remains of Bronze Age sea-going ships in Northern Europe, establishing that vessels of considerable size and architectural sophistication capable of large-scale overseas travel existed in the era of 2030-1680 BC.
Coates married Jane Waymouth in 1954 and she predeceased him in 2008. He died on 10 July 2010, leaving two sons.