William H. Brown (June 16, 1803–October 27, 1855) was a 19th-century American
shipbuilder. He built
yachts,
paddle steamers and
steamboats. He was one of the first shipbuilders in the country and had his business for more than thirty years having built over 300 vessels. He built the yacht
America, which was the first winner of the
America's Cup; the paddle steamer
SS Arctic; and the sidewheel steamer
Pacific, as well as other fine ships.
Early life
William H. Brown was born in
Stamford, Connecticut on June 16, 1803.[1] He was the son of Doctor William H Brown (1766–1813) and Elizabeth Leeds (1771–1851). He came to New York when he was a young man. He married Elizabeth "Eliza" Jennings (1804–1890). They had two children, William Henry Austin Brown (1839–1911) and Arthur J. Brown (1831–1900).
Career
Brown was well known for building fast and seaworthy
yachts and
schooners. He was one of the first shipbuilders in the country and had his business for more than thirty years, building over 300 vessels.[2] Brown was an apprentice at the shipyard of
Adam and Noah Brown (no relation). He built towboats and barges for use on the
Hudson River. He later established the William H. Brown
shipyard at the foot of Twelfth Street, on the
East River in New York City.[1]
In 1849, Brown hired George Steers as his chief
loftsman at the Brown shipyard. Steers supervised the construction of schooners such as the yacht America.[3]
In 1850, Brown became associated with
Edward Knight Collins, the American shipping magnate. He built two vessels for the
Collins Line, the Atlantic and Arctic. The contract was worth almost $1.5 million.[4]
Notable ships
America
Brown built the racing yacht
America in 1850–1851 under contract by a syndicate of New York yachtsmen, including
CommodoreJohn Cox Stevens of the
New York Yacht Club. Stevens employed the services of Brown and his chief designer,
George Steers. On November 15, 1850, Brown wrote a letter to Stevens offering to build him the yacht for $30,000 under the condition that Hamilton Wilkes, as umpire, would make several trial races to decide if she was the fastest vessel in the United States. Stevens later accepted the proposal and the yacht was purchased on June 17, 1851.[3][5]
The America was launched on May 3, 1851, from the Brown shipyard, near Eleventh Street,
East River, New York.[6][7]: p95-96 America was the first winner of the
America's Cup international sailing trophy.[8] American painter
Fitz Henry Lane did marine paintings of the yacht America. The painting "The Yacht America Winning the International Race" was done in 1851.[9]
SS Arctic
The
SS Arctic was a
paddle steamer of the
Collins Line, was built by the William H. Brown shipyard and designed by George Steers. She was launched on January 28, 1850, from Brown's yard on New York's
East River, before 30,000 spectators. According to a press account, she was "the most stupendous vessel ever constructed in the United States, or the world, since the patriarchal days of Noah." She operated a transatlantic passenger and mail steamship service during the 1850s. She was the largest of a fleet of four, built with the aid of U.S. government subsidies to challenge the transatlantic supremacy of the British-backed
Cunard Line. During its four-year period of service, the ship was renowned both for its speed and for the luxury of its accommodation.[10][11]
List of ships
Brown built the following ships:
Kamchatka (1841) sidewheel steamer built for the Russian government[3]
Brown was associated with John Englis. After Brown retired from shipbuilding in 1853, Englis opened his own shipyard at the foot of East 10th Street, New York under his own name.[15]
Death
Brown died on October 27, 1855, at the age of 52 at his residence on Second Avenue in
New York City.[24] The colors of the shipping industry in the harbor were displayed at half-mast on the 29th in respect of his memory.[25] He was buried at the Fairfield East Cemetery in
Fairfield, Connecticut, Connecticut.
Post death
Brown had a partnership with
Cornelius Vanderbilt in 1851 for the three vessels he built, which were the Pacific, Independence and Sea Bird under the steamship line between New York and San Francisco by way of Nicaragua.[26] On June 10, 1895, a suit against the Vanderbilt was brought by Brown's son, William H. A. Brown, who was the administrator of his estate. The claim was for $2,000,000 when Vanderbilt and Brown were in partnership and built several vessels together. During that time, Vanderbilt used Brown's ships had received profits from them, which he asked the court for an accounting.[27] On August 27, 1899, the suit for millions settled for $5,000.[28]