Thomas Slade
Encyclopedia
Sir Thomas Slade was an English
naval architect, most famous for designing HMS Victory
, Lord Nelson's flagship at the Battle of Trafalgar
in 1805.
In 1744 Thomas became Deputy Master Shipwright at Woolwich Dockyard
. On the 22nd of November 1750 he replaced his uncle, who had died that year, as Master Shipwright at Plymouth. On the 27th of May 1752 he was transferred temporarily back to Woolwich Dockyard as Master Shipwright, and from there to Chatham Dockyard on the 17th of June 1752 and subsequently on the 15th of March 1753 to Deptford Dockyard, where he remained until 5th of August 1755.
He was appointed Surveyor of the Navy in August 1755 by George Anson
, First Lord of the Admiralty
, serving until his death in February 1771. For the first decade, he shared the appointment with William Bately, formerly the Deputy Surveyor of the Navy, until the latter's retirement in June 1765. On Bately's retirement, John Williams was appointed to share the post. Nevertheless, Slade was clearly the senior Surveyor throughout his tenure.
During this tenure, Slade was responsible for several major design changes. He produced a 'generic design' that was used as a template for the Royal Navy
's 74-gun ships and frigates. His '74' designs, starting with the , were an evolution of current British ships, built to compete with the new French '74's, some of which had been captured during the War of Austrian Succession in 1747. At least 46 '74's were built to his designs; the last was launched in 1789.
He also designed HMS Asia
, which was the first true 64. As a result, the Royal Navy
ordered no further 60-gun ships but instead commissioned more 64 gun ships. Because these incorporated alterations learned from trials with Asia, subsequent ships were bigger, she was the only ship of her draught (class). The first of these was HMS Ardent
, which ushered in the .
Slade also designed smaller vessels, such as the 8-gun Board of Customs cutter, HMS Sherborne
.
Victory was his most famous single vessel. Once commissioned, she became the most successful first rate ship of the line
ever built. On 13 December 1758, the Board of Admiralty in London placed an order for the construction of 12 new ships of the line, including one of 100 guns. The following year the Admiralty chose the name Victory for this vessel, despite the previous holders of the name having been largely unsuccessful. It is interesting to note that 1758 also saw the birth of Nelson, who would die on her decks at Trafalgar.
Sir Thomas Slade died in February 1771 and is buried in St Clement's churchyard, Grimwade Street, Ipswich
. His will was proven on 19 March 1771 (Prob. 11/965). His wife Hannah lies with her parents in the tomb next to the west boundary of the churchyard.
His 1745 apprentice John Henslow (later Sir John) also became Chief Surveyor to the Navy in 1784 and was the grandfather of Darwin's mentor John Henslow
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
naval architect, most famous for designing HMS Victory
HMS Victory
HMS Victory is a 104-gun first-rate ship of the line of the Royal Navy, laid down in 1759 and launched in 1765. She is most famous as Lord Nelson's flagship at the Battle of Trafalgar in 1805....
, Lord Nelson's flagship at the Battle of Trafalgar
Battle of Trafalgar
The Battle of Trafalgar was a sea battle fought between the British Royal Navy and the combined fleets of the French Navy and Spanish Navy, during the War of the Third Coalition of the Napoleonic Wars ....
in 1805.
Career Outline
Like many who rose to the pinnacle of the design of British sailing warships, Thomas Slade began as a shipwright in the Royal Dockyards. His uncle Benjamin Slade was Master Shipwright at Plymouth Dockyard (a Master Shipwright was responsible for all ship construction and repair at the dockyard in which he served).In 1744 Thomas became Deputy Master Shipwright at Woolwich Dockyard
Woolwich Dockyard
Woolwich Dockyard was an English naval dockyard founded by King Henry VIII in 1512 to build his flagship Henri Grâce à Dieu , the largest ship of its day....
. On the 22nd of November 1750 he replaced his uncle, who had died that year, as Master Shipwright at Plymouth. On the 27th of May 1752 he was transferred temporarily back to Woolwich Dockyard as Master Shipwright, and from there to Chatham Dockyard on the 17th of June 1752 and subsequently on the 15th of March 1753 to Deptford Dockyard, where he remained until 5th of August 1755.
George Anson, 1st Baron Anson
Admiral of the Fleet George Anson, 1st Baron Anson PC, FRS, RN was a British admiral and a wealthy aristocrat, noted for his circumnavigation of the globe and his role overseeing the Royal Navy during the Seven Years' War...
, First Lord of the Admiralty
Admiralty
The Admiralty was formerly the authority in the Kingdom of England, and later in the United Kingdom, responsible for the command of the Royal Navy...
, serving until his death in February 1771. For the first decade, he shared the appointment with William Bately, formerly the Deputy Surveyor of the Navy, until the latter's retirement in June 1765. On Bately's retirement, John Williams was appointed to share the post. Nevertheless, Slade was clearly the senior Surveyor throughout his tenure.
Achievements
According to N.A.M. Rodger:The ships which [he] designed...were admirably suited to Britain's strategic requirements...By common consent, Slade was the greatest British naval architect of the century...it was generally agreed (even by themselves) that his successors, though competent designers, never matched his genius.
During this tenure, Slade was responsible for several major design changes. He produced a 'generic design' that was used as a template for 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...
's 74-gun ships and frigates. His '74' designs, starting with the , were an evolution of current British ships, built to compete with the new French '74's, some of which had been captured during the War of Austrian Succession in 1747. At least 46 '74's were built to his designs; the last was launched in 1789.
HMS Asia (1764)
HMS Asia was a 64-gun third-rate ship of the line of the Royal Navy, launched on 3 March 1764 at Portsmouth Dockyard. She participated in the American Revolutionary War and the capture of Martinique in 1794....
, which was the first true 64. As a result, 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...
ordered no further 60-gun ships but instead commissioned more 64 gun ships. Because these incorporated alterations learned from trials with Asia, subsequent ships were bigger, she was the only ship of her draught (class). The first of these was HMS Ardent
HMS Ardent (1764)
HMS Ardent was a 64-gun third-rate ship of the line of the Royal Navy. She was built by contract by Hugh Blaydes at Hull according to the plans of Sir Thomas Slade, and launched on 13 August 1764 as the first ship of the...
, which ushered in the .
Slade also designed smaller vessels, such as the 8-gun Board of Customs cutter, HMS Sherborne
HMS Sherborne (1763)
HMS Sherborne was a 10-gun cutter of the Royal Navy. She served in the English Channel for her entire career, operating against smugglers...
.
Ship of the line
A ship of the line was a type of naval warship constructed from the 17th through the mid-19th century to take part in the naval tactic known as the line of battle, in which two columns of opposing warships would manoeuvre to bring the greatest weight of broadside guns to bear...
ever built. On 13 December 1758, the Board of Admiralty in London placed an order for the construction of 12 new ships of the line, including one of 100 guns. The following year the Admiralty chose the name Victory for this vessel, despite the previous holders of the name having been largely unsuccessful. It is interesting to note that 1758 also saw the birth of Nelson, who would die on her decks at Trafalgar.
Sir Thomas Slade died in February 1771 and is buried in St Clement's churchyard, Grimwade Street, Ipswich
Ipswich
Ipswich is a large town and a non-metropolitan district. It is the county town of Suffolk, England. Ipswich is located on the estuary of the River Orwell...
. His will was proven on 19 March 1771 (Prob. 11/965). His wife Hannah lies with her parents in the tomb next to the west boundary of the churchyard.
- Slade Point (21° 04'S, 149° 14'E) on the central QueenslandQueenslandQueensland is a state of Australia, occupying the north-eastern section of the mainland continent. It is bordered by the Northern Territory, South Australia and New South Wales to the west, south-west and south respectively. To the east, Queensland is bordered by the Coral Sea and Pacific Ocean...
coast was named after him.
His 1745 apprentice John Henslow (later Sir John) also became Chief Surveyor to the Navy in 1784 and was the grandfather of Darwin's mentor John Henslow
John Stevens Henslow
John Stevens Henslow was an English clergyman, botanist and geologist. He is best remembered as friend and mentor to his pupil Charles Darwin.- Early life :...