Winslow Lewis
Encyclopedia
Winslow Lewis was a sea captain, engineer
, inventor and contractor
active in the construction of many American
lighthouse
s during the first half of the nineteenth century.
A resident of Wellfleet, Massachusetts
, Lewis began developing his ideas during the embargo
of American shipping during the Napoleonic wars
. He created a new lighting system
based on Argand lamp
s; in 1812 the United States Congress
purchased his patent rights for the system. In so doing, it awarded him a contract to equip all American lighthouses with the lamps. The fitting took four years; afterwards, Lewis won another contract, this one allowing him to supply oil to all the stations, and to visit them yearly to ensure their smooth operation.
Lewis soon branched out into contracting work, winning bids to build new lighthouses around the country. When Stephen Pleasonton took over the responsibility for these contracts in 1820, he formed an alliance with Lewis, who was soon being awarded most lighthouse construction deals in the United States. While demand for the towers was high, funds were short, and Pleasonton took great pride in the fact that Lewis was able to do cheap, fast work.
Lewis soon had a set of standard plans drawn up to meet demand; these plotted out five different sizes of lighthouses, at 25, 30, 40, 50, and 65 feet high. Many such towers were built; most were made of brick, but a few were constructed of stone. But Lewis knew little about proper engineering practices, and most of the lighthouses were either poorly constructed, or they were too short. Most had to be replaced; only a handful survive today.
Little is known of Lewis' later career. His nephew, I. W. P. Lewis
, was also a lighthouse builder and engineer.
Engineer
An engineer is a professional practitioner of engineering, concerned with applying scientific knowledge, mathematics and ingenuity to develop solutions for technical problems. Engineers design materials, structures, machines and systems while considering the limitations imposed by practicality,...
, inventor and contractor
General contractor
A general contractor is responsible for the day-to-day oversight of a construction site, management of vendors and trades, and communication of information to involved parties throughout the course of a building project.-Description:...
active in the construction of many American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
lighthouse
Lighthouse
A lighthouse is a tower, building, or other type of structure designed to emit light from a system of lamps and lenses or, in older times, from a fire, and used as an aid to navigation for maritime pilots at sea or on inland waterways....
s during the first half of the nineteenth century.
A resident of Wellfleet, Massachusetts
Wellfleet, Massachusetts
Wellfleet is a New England town in Barnstable County, Massachusetts, United States. Located halfway between the "tip" and "elbow" of Cape Cod, Massachusetts, the town had a population of 2,749 at the 2000 census, which swells nearly sixfold during the summer...
, Lewis began developing his ideas during the embargo
Embargo
An embargo is the partial or complete prohibition of commerce and trade with a particular country, in order to isolate it. Embargoes are considered strong diplomatic measures imposed in an effort, by the imposing country, to elicit a given national-interest result from the country on which it is...
of American shipping during the Napoleonic wars
Napoleonic Wars
The Napoleonic Wars were a series of wars declared against Napoleon's French Empire by opposing coalitions that ran from 1803 to 1815. As a continuation of the wars sparked by the French Revolution of 1789, they revolutionised European armies and played out on an unprecedented scale, mainly due to...
. He created a new lighting system
Lewis lamp
The Lewis lamp is a type of light fixture used in lighthouses. It was invented by Winslow Lewis who patented the design in 1810. The primary marketing point of the Lewis lamp was that it used less than half the oil of the prior oil lamps which they replaced...
based on Argand lamp
Argand lamp
The Argand lamp is home lighting oil lamp producing a light output of 6 to 10 candlepower which was invented and patented in 1780 by Aimé Argand...
s; in 1812 the United States Congress
United States Congress
The United States Congress is the bicameral legislature of the federal government of the United States, consisting of the Senate and the House of Representatives. The Congress meets in the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C....
purchased his patent rights for the system. In so doing, it awarded him a contract to equip all American lighthouses with the lamps. The fitting took four years; afterwards, Lewis won another contract, this one allowing him to supply oil to all the stations, and to visit them yearly to ensure their smooth operation.
Lewis soon branched out into contracting work, winning bids to build new lighthouses around the country. When Stephen Pleasonton took over the responsibility for these contracts in 1820, he formed an alliance with Lewis, who was soon being awarded most lighthouse construction deals in the United States. While demand for the towers was high, funds were short, and Pleasonton took great pride in the fact that Lewis was able to do cheap, fast work.
Little is known of Lewis' later career. His nephew, I. W. P. Lewis
I. W. P. Lewis
Isaiah William Penn Lewis was an American lighthouse designer, builder, and engineer.He was a nephew of Winslow Lewis, and was often critical of his uncle's work....
, was also a lighthouse builder and engineer.
See also
- Description of lighting system
- Lightouse Database
- F. Ross Holland, Jr.F. Ross Holland, Jr.F Ross Holland, Jr. was an American historian. He is best remembered today for his books on American lighthouses.-Life:...
America's Lighthouses: Their Illustrated History Since 1716.