Profiles in History: William H. Webb, America’s First Naval Architect

American shipbuilder and businessman William H Webb, circa 1870. (Alphonse J. Liebert/Graphic House/Archive Photos/Getty Images)

William H. Webb (1816-1899) was the son of a shipbuilder who arguably became the most successful and innovative American shipbuilder of the 19th century. Isaac Webb taught his son the art of building ships of sail, as the innovation of the steamboat had yet to arrive. When his father died in 1840, Webb took control of the family shipbuilding business. For the next three decades Webb would contract, design, and oversee the construction of commercial, military and recreational vessels for buyers from around the globe.

His shipyard produced fast sailing packets, clipper ships, side-wheelers, ferry boats, sailboats, steamships, wooden ships, and ironclads. While he remained the head of his shipyard, he would dominate the American industry. His amount of ships and tonnage would far outpace his competitors. European powers, like Russia, Italy, and France, purchased warships from Webb for their navies.

The Russian imperial government purchased a 2,500-ton ship called the United States. The ship, which was built in 1845, was turned into a sloop of war. In 1859, the Russian government purchased another warship, the General Admiral. Webb’s experience and expertise in shipbuilding was put to great use during the Civil War in which he built several man-of-war ships of the line. He worked closely with Secretary of the Navy Gideon Welles, who used Webb’s ships to block Southern ports of the Confederacy.

The William H. Webb Ship Yard during the American Civil War, New York City, circa 1863. (Archive Photos/Getty Images)

To combat the blockade, the Confederates refitted the USS Merrimack with a 1,500-pound iron ram to target Union ships anchored at Hampton Roads, and rechristened her the CSS Virginia. The Union needed a similar ship that could challenge the now-Virginia, which resulted in the commissioning of the USS Monitor. The Battle of Hampton Roads, more famously known as the Battle of Ironclads, took place March 8-9, 1862. Webb knew naval warfare had changed, even before this famous battle, as the navies of Britain and France had built their own ironclad ships years prior. Webb began construction in October on his new ironclad project―the massive USS Dunderberg. In some ways it would dwarf the Virginia and the Monitor.

The Monitor was only 776 tons and 172 feet long. The Virginia was much larger at 4,500 tons and 275 feet in length. The Dunderberg, however, was 7,000 tons and 380 feet long, which included a 50-foot ram.

Admiral David Farragut wrote his wife in 1864 concerning the Dunderberg, stating that “Any man who is prepared for defeat would be half defeated before he commenced.”

Unfortunately for the massive ironclad, she would miss the war. She was launched in July of 1865. She was considered the most powerful warship in the world and therefore garnered the attention of the European powers. She was purchased by the French government and appropriately renamed Rochambeau.

A few years later, Webb would officially retire from shipbuilding, but would continue his interest in maritime concerns. He used part of his fortune to establish Webb Academy and Home for Shipbuilders (now Webb Institute), opening in 1894. His endowment has enabled every student to attend the college tuition-free.

Described by the New York Herald as “the very first naval architect in this country,” Webb worked to design faster and more powerful ships throughout his lifetime. His innovative spirit lives on through the Webb Institute, as well as America’s Cup, the oldest and most prestigious yacht sailing competition. According to the National Sailing Hall of Fame, “Every America’s Cup since 1930 has featured Webb Institute graduates on the design teams of the USA defenders, and in recent years virtually every international team has Webb graduates engaged in the design and engineering development of America’s Cup yachts.”

Webb was also a founding member of the Society of Naval Architects and Marine Engineers (SNAME). SNAME established the William H. Webb Medal in 1987, which is awarded to individuals for “outstanding contributions to education in naval architecture, marine or ocean engineering.”