Laird Brothers: Difference between revisions
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'''The Laird Brothers''' were shipbuilding legends. | '''The Laird Brothers''' were shipbuilding legends. Their Cammell Laird shipyard based at Birkenhead on the Mersey in England, closed in 1993 with 165 continuous years of shipbuilding to its credit. The laird Brothers were responsible for a number of technical innovations including: watertight bulkheads, iron clad battleships and armour plating. they were the first to make an all welded ship and also made the first ever aircraft carrier, the Ark Royal. They also innovated in terms of shipbuilding workflow enabling the production process to speed up. | ||
==Shipbuilding== | ==Shipbuilding== | ||
*1824 - William Laird established the Birkenhead Iron Works in 1824. The aim was to manufacture boilers. However, in 1828the yard moved into shipbuilding. He went into business with his son John. | *1824 - William Laird established the Birkenhead Iron Works in 1824. The aim was to manufacture boilers. However, in 1828the yard moved into shipbuilding. He went into business with his son John. | ||
*1830s - The first shipbuilding order was for a 60-ton lighter and their first innovation which was the use of bulkheads was put to use in the small paddle steamer Garryowen in 1834. In addition, the yard made a number of iron gunboats. John Laird's brother Macgregor Laird was also establishing his | *1830s - The first shipbuilding order was for a 60-ton lighter and their first innovation which was the use of bulkheads was put to use in the small paddle steamer Garryowen in 1834. In addition, the yard made a number of iron gunboats. John Laird's brother Macgregor Laird was also establishing his own yard on the Liverpool bank from 1832. John Laird was also known as a human rights activist for African peoples and regularly undertook voyages into the interior of Africa. | ||
*1850s - The site of the yard was acquired by the Mersey Docks and Harbour Board for Birkenhead Docks. John Laird moved to a new site between Monks Ferry and Tranmere Pool. This was known as the North yard. The | *1850s - The site of the yard was acquired by the Mersey Docks and Harbour Board for Birkenhead Docks. John Laird moved to a new site between Monks Ferry and Tranmere Pool. This was known as the North yard. The famous explorer Dr. Livingstone also ordered his river steamer Ma Robert from the yard. Macgregor founded the African Steamship Company which after his death was sold on to Elder, Dempster and co in 1861. This company is widely regarded as the greatest trading company to have done business with West Africa during this period. | ||
*1861 - John Laird retired in order to become an MP. Laird Brothers became the new trading name with William, John and Henry being the owners and managers. from this point onwards the yard built up a formidable | *1861 - John Laird retired in order to become an MP. Laird Brothers became the new trading name with William, John and Henry being the owners and managers. from this point onwards the yard built up a formidable reputation as a merchant shipbuilder. The yard also built the Confederate commence raider Alabama in 1862. this ship was responsible for sinking over 60 Union merchantmen before meeting its end in 1864 when it was hit and sunk. | ||
*1870s - The first of a long line of Cock tugs | *1870s - The first of a long line of Cock tugs was made: Storm Cock. From 1870-1900 over 270 merchant ships were made by the yard. | ||
*1890s - the yard made a series of armour clad battleships for the Royal Navy along with | *1890s - the yard made a series of armour clad battleships for the Royal Navy along with torpedo boat destroyers. This led on to orders coming in from Argentinean, Chilean, Portuguese and Russian navies. the armour plating had been manufactured by Charles Cammell and Company and consequently the two companies were merged in 1903 to become [[Cammell%2C_Laird_and_Co.|Cammell Laird and Co.]] Ltd. This meant that armoured warships could be built by one company which was more convenient for the Royal navy. The company was already of limited liability status. | ||
- The history of the Laird Brothers now continues in a separate section: [[Cammell%2C_Laird_and_Co.|Cammel, Laird and Co. | - The history of the Laird Brothers now continues in a separate section: [[Cammell%2C_Laird_and_Co.|Cammel, Laird and Co.]] | ||
==See Also== | ==See Also== | ||
[[Cammell%2C_Laird_and_Co.|Cammell, Laird and Co.]] | [[Cammell%2C_Laird_and_Co.|Cammell, Laird and Co.]] | ||
==Sources of | ==Sources of Information== | ||
British Shipbuilding Yards. 3 vols by Norman L. Middlemiss | British Shipbuilding Yards. 3 vols by Norman L. Middlemiss | ||
Revision as of 14:24, 15 May 2007
The Laird Brothers were shipbuilding legends. Their Cammell Laird shipyard based at Birkenhead on the Mersey in England, closed in 1993 with 165 continuous years of shipbuilding to its credit. The laird Brothers were responsible for a number of technical innovations including: watertight bulkheads, iron clad battleships and armour plating. they were the first to make an all welded ship and also made the first ever aircraft carrier, the Ark Royal. They also innovated in terms of shipbuilding workflow enabling the production process to speed up.
Shipbuilding
- 1824 - William Laird established the Birkenhead Iron Works in 1824. The aim was to manufacture boilers. However, in 1828the yard moved into shipbuilding. He went into business with his son John.
- 1830s - The first shipbuilding order was for a 60-ton lighter and their first innovation which was the use of bulkheads was put to use in the small paddle steamer Garryowen in 1834. In addition, the yard made a number of iron gunboats. John Laird's brother Macgregor Laird was also establishing his own yard on the Liverpool bank from 1832. John Laird was also known as a human rights activist for African peoples and regularly undertook voyages into the interior of Africa.
- 1850s - The site of the yard was acquired by the Mersey Docks and Harbour Board for Birkenhead Docks. John Laird moved to a new site between Monks Ferry and Tranmere Pool. This was known as the North yard. The famous explorer Dr. Livingstone also ordered his river steamer Ma Robert from the yard. Macgregor founded the African Steamship Company which after his death was sold on to Elder, Dempster and co in 1861. This company is widely regarded as the greatest trading company to have done business with West Africa during this period.
- 1861 - John Laird retired in order to become an MP. Laird Brothers became the new trading name with William, John and Henry being the owners and managers. from this point onwards the yard built up a formidable reputation as a merchant shipbuilder. The yard also built the Confederate commence raider Alabama in 1862. this ship was responsible for sinking over 60 Union merchantmen before meeting its end in 1864 when it was hit and sunk.
- 1870s - The first of a long line of Cock tugs was made: Storm Cock. From 1870-1900 over 270 merchant ships were made by the yard.
- 1890s - the yard made a series of armour clad battleships for the Royal Navy along with torpedo boat destroyers. This led on to orders coming in from Argentinean, Chilean, Portuguese and Russian navies. the armour plating had been manufactured by Charles Cammell and Company and consequently the two companies were merged in 1903 to become Cammell Laird and Co. Ltd. This meant that armoured warships could be built by one company which was more convenient for the Royal navy. The company was already of limited liability status.
- The history of the Laird Brothers now continues in a separate section: Cammel, Laird and Co.
See Also
Sources of Information
British Shipbuilding Yards. 3 vols by Norman L. Middlemiss