Department of the Chief Constructor of the Navy | |
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Type | Department |
Preceded by | None |
Country | United Kingdom |
Founded | 1860 |
Abolished | 1875 |
Headquarters | London, England |
Role | Design & Construction of Warships |
Part of | Department of Admiralty |
Succeeded by | Department of the Director of Naval Construction |
The Department of the Chief Constructor of the Navy was established in 1860 it replaced the Office of the Assistant Surveyor of the Navy. The department was responsible for the design and construction of the warships of the Royal Navy. The department was administered by the Chief Constructor of the Navy until 1875 when it was replaced by the Department of the Director of Naval Construction.
1) History
The department evolved out of the earlier Office of the Assistant Surveyor of the Navy (1832-1859). In 1860 the post of the Assistant Surveyor was renamed Chief Constructor The chief constructor was originally head of the Royal Corps of Naval Constructors and members of the corps were responsible for the designing and building of warships, whether they were built in the Royal Dockyards (such as Chatham) or contracted out to private industry (such as Armstrong Whitworth). The department was responsible for the design and construction of the warships of the Royal Navy. In 1875 it was replaced by the Department of the Director of Naval Construction.
2) Head of Department
2.1) Chief Constructor of the Navy
- Isaac Watts (1860-1863)
- Sir Edward James Reed (1863-1870)
- Sir Nathaniel Barnaby (1870-1875)
3) Departments and Offices
- Admiralty Experiment Works (1872-1875)