Nathanael Greene Herreshoff
| Nathanael Greene Herreshoff | |
|---|---|
Herreshoff circa 1898
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| Born |
March 18, 1848 Bristol, Rhode Island |
| Died | June 2, 1938 (aged 90) Bristol, Rhode Island |
| Other names | Nickname: Captain Nat |
| Occupation | Naval architect Mechanical engineer |
| Known for | Designing motor and sailing yachts, especially America's Cup defenders between 1893-1920 |
| Spouse(s) | Clara Anna DeWolf Ann Roebuck |
| Children | Agnes Muller Herreshoff Lewis Francis Herreshoff |
| Relatives |
J. B. F. Herreshoff, brother Charles F. Herreshoff, nephew L. Francis Herreshoff, son Halsey Chase Herreshoff, grandson |
Nathanael Greene Herreshoff (March 18, 1848 – June 2, 1938) was an American naval architect, mechanical engineer, and yacht design innovator. He produced a succession of undefeated America's Cup defenders between 1893-1920.
Herreshoff was born on March 18, 1848 in Bristol, Rhode Island and was named after General Nathanael Greene. He was the youngest of three brothers, behind Lewis and John B.
He graduated from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1870 with a three-year degree in mechanical engineering. After graduation, he took a position with the Corliss Steam Engine Company in Providence, Rhode Island. At the 1876 Centennial Exposition in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, he oversaw operation of the Corliss Stationary Engine, a 40-foot-tall (12 m), 1,400-horsepower (1,000 kW) dynamo that powered the exhibition's machinery.
In 1878 Herreshoff returned to Bristol where he and his older brother John B. formed the Herreshoff Manufacturing Company. Herreshoff provided the engineering expertise and his brother provided the business expertise, managing the firm's personnel and interacting with clients. Together, they grew the business from about 20 employees to over 400. In 1888, a serious accident occurred while Herreshoff was supervising speed trials of a 138-foot (42 m), 875-horsepower (652 kW) steamboat named Say When. After a safety valve opened to release over-pressure, Herreshoff closed it so the boat could achieve its anticipated maximum speed. But a boiler exploded, fatally injuring a member of the crew. Consequently, Herreshoff lost his steam engineer's license.
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