Patterson and Mercer
of Bristol
1830 William Patterson took over the yard on the bankruptcy of William Scott. Patterson's design flair led to him being asked to build the first steam vessel designed for regular Atlantic passages - the Great Western.
1837 Built SS Great Western which was launched on 19 July before having engines fitted in London by Maudslay, Sons and Field[1]
1842 Patterson drew up hull lines and advised Acramans in building two large steamships, Avon and Severn.
1843 William Patterson contributed to the design of The SS Great Britain for the Great Western Steamship Co and was built in a specially-adapted dry dock at Bristol. She was 'floated out' on 19th July 1843.
1848 He built the Charlotte Jane, which carried emigrants to New Zealand.
1849 Built three ships for the Austrian Government - Corah, Inca and Cazique.
1851 Patterson suffered a significant financial loss when the Demerara was damaged in the Avon when being towed to the Clyde to have her engines fitted. At over 3000 tons, she was the second largest built in Bristol at that time (exceeded only by the SS Great Britain).
See Also
Sources of Information
- Shipbuilding in the Port of Bristol' by Grahame Farr: Maritime Monographs and Reports No. 27 - 1977: ISBN 0 905555 05 8
- A Short History of Naval and Marine Engineering by E. C. Smith. Published 1937