Sir Thomas Slade (1703/4 - 1771) was an English naval architect, most famous for designing HMS Victory, Lord Nelson's flagship at the Battle of Trafalgar in 1805.
Like almost all of those who rose to the pinnacle of the design of British sailing warships, Thomas Slade began as a shipwright in the Royal Dockyards. In 1744 he became Deputy Master Shipwright at Woolwich Dockyard. He became Master Shipwright at Plymouth Dockyard on 22 November 1750 (...
more
Sir Thomas Slade (1703/4 - 1771) was an English naval architect, most famous for designing HMS Victory, Lord Nelson's flagship at the Battle of Trafalgar in 1805.
Like almost all of those who rose to the pinnacle of the design of British sailing warships, Thomas Slade began as a shipwright in the Royal Dockyards. In 1744 he became Deputy Master Shipwright at Woolwich Dockyard. He became Master Shipwright at Plymouth Dockyard on 22 November 1750 (a Master Shipwright was responsible for all ship construction and repair at the dockyard in which he served). On 27 May 1752 he was transferred temporarily back to Woolwich Dockyard as Master Shipwright, and from there to Chatham Dockyard on 17 June 1752 and subsequently on 15 March 1753 to Deptford Dockyard, where he remained until 5 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...
less
