Archibald Denny

Sir Archibald Denny FRSE LLD (1860–1935) was a naval architect who was owner of the huge Clyde shipbuilding company of William Denny and Brothers and was granted a baronetcy in 1913, thereby giving birth to the Denny baronets of Dumbarton. Unusually as an owner, he also interested himself directly in the design of ships. He was president of the Institute of Marine Engineers. The company, usually simply referred to as Dennys, had the highest output and tonnage of any of the Clyde shipbuilders, ranking them as one of the world’s largest companies at that time.

Glasgow University award an Archibald Denny Prize annually to the best Naval Architecture student. This was granted in 1912 during Denny's lifetime, and the prize includes money intended for foreign travel.

He was born on 7 February 1860, the fourth son of Peter Denny FRSE of Denny Brothers, shipbuilders in Dumbarton, and his wife Helen Leslie. The family was enormously rich being involved in the then (19th century) very safe industry of shipbuilding. His early education was at Dumbarton Burgh School. In 1874 he was sent to Lausanne in Switzerland to complete his education at a private school.

Unlike his brothers, Archibald felt a need to stimulate his mind, whilst still involving himself in the family business. He therefore went to London to engage in specific training as a naval architect at the Royal Naval College, Greenwich. This brought a “hands-on” relationship between shipyard owner and design. He brought a practicality to designs, often absent in competitors, setting them up well for the more commercial elements of ship design. The Oxford Dictionary of National Biography summarised this as “technical excellence”.

In 1883 the ownership of the family shipbuilders passed to Archibald (aged only 23). In the same year Archibald took over the shipyard in Leven, Fife, and introduced the world’s first hydromechanical experimentation laboratory: including a large tank for testing the properties of model ships. In 1885 he brought in John Ward to assist in the management, and in 1895 a cousin, Col Leslie Denny. Under Archibald’s control the company began to specialise in ferries and refrigerated ships (Reefer ships). In 1905 the company further broadening seeking and gaining lucrative Admiralty contracts for torpedo-boats, submarines, destroyers and hospital ships. One branch of the company also began building military fighter aircraft.

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