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{{Short description|American naval architect (1886–1967)}}
'''William Francis Gibbs''' ([[August 24]], [[1886]] - [[September 6]], [[1967]]) was a naval engineer.
{{More citations needed|date=May 2017}}
{{Infobox person
| name = William Francis Gibbs
| image = William Francis Gibbs.jpg
| caption = Gibbs in 1924
| birth_date = August 24, 1886
| birth_place = Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
| death_date = {{d-da|September 6, 1967|August 24, 1886}}
| death_place = New York, New York, U.S.
| nationality = [[United States|American]]
| occupation = [[Naval architecture|Naval architect]]
| footnotes =
}}
'''William Francis Gibbs''' (August 24, 1886 – September 6, 1967) was an American [[naval architecture|naval architect]] of the mid-twentieth century.


Although he began his career as an attorney, after [[World War I]], he became recognized as a skilled project manager in the restoration of a former German ocean liner for American use. In 1922, in partnership with his brother [[Frederic Herbert Gibbs]], he began the firm that would eventually become [[Gibbs & Cox]]; they were among the major designers of [[World War II]]-era warships and cargo vessels, including the [[Liberty ships]] and [[Fletcher-class destroyer]]s. Gibbs was a pioneer in the areas of efficient hull design and propulsion, along with being a staunch advocate for high standards of fire prevention and hull integrity. Although the Liberty ships were designed with a priority of production simplicity and economy, other Gibbs designs tended to be sturdy, light, fast, safe, and enduring.
Gibbs was born in [[Philadelphia]]. He originally was a [[lawyer]], but became a self-taught naval engineer.


During the late 1940s and early 1950s, the Gibbs brothers were among the promoters leading the United States government and military to subsidize the cost of building the ultimate ocean liner. In the end, Gibbs and Cox was awarded the contract to design and supervise the building of [[SS United States|SS ''United States'']], which entered service in 1952. While in the class of the largest liners, it was much lighter and considerably faster than contemporary vessels. It was built with a high emphasis on safety, using a minimum of flammable materials.
Gibbs was involved in the [[mass production]] of [[cargo ship]]s for the [[U.S.]] during [[World War II]]. Among other vessels, he designed the so-called [[Liberty ships]].


== Early years ==
Gibbs also designed the [[SS United States]] (1952).
Gibbs was born in [[Philadelphia]] on August 24, 1886, to financier [[Exide#History|William Warren Gibbs]] and Frances Ayres (Johnson) Gibbs.<ref name=Bachman-71>{{cite report |url=http://www.nasonline.org/publications/biographical-memoirs/memoir-pdfs/gibbs-william.pdf |title=William Francis Gibbs, 1886–1967: A Biographical Memoir |author=Bachman, Walter C. |date=1971 |publisher=National Academy of Sciences}}</ref>{{rp|47}} He graduated from the DeLancey School in 1905 then entered [[Harvard College]] where he followed his own curriculum of science and engineering, studying plans of British battleships in his dormitory room.<ref name=Bachman-71/>{{rp|47–48}} He left without a degree in 1910.<ref name=Bachman-71/>{{rp|48}} He then attended [[Columbia Law School]] from 1911 to 1913, receiving a Bachelor of Law and Master of Arts in economics, both in 1913.<ref name=Bachman-71/>{{rp|48}} At his father's request, he practiced law for the next two years.<ref name=Bachman-71/>{{rp|48}}


While working as a lawyer, Gibbs visited the family home each weekend and, together with his brother Frederic Herbert Gibbs, began designs for a {{convert|1000|ft|adj=on}} long [[ocean liner]],<ref name=Bachman-71/>{{rp|48}} each capable of producing 180,000 [[horsepower]]. The design had progressed to a point that he left the law firm in May 1915; in January 1916 the brothers presented their plans to Admiral [[David W. Taylor]] and Secretary of the Navy [[Josephus Daniels]].<ref name=Bachman-71/>{{rp|48}} The response was encouraging, and the brothers, with the financial backing of [[J. P. Morgan]] and the [[United States Navy]], then approached the [[International Mercantile Marine]] Company (IMMC) later that year.<ref name=Bachman-71/>{{rp|48}} Although a model was tested in the Experimental Model Basin at the [[Washington Navy Yard]], World War I put an end to these early designs. Gibbs became Chief of Construction for IMMC in 1919.<ref name=Bachman-71/>{{rp|49}}
The [[Gibbs Brothers Medal]] is based on a gift of Gibbs and his brother [[Frederic H. Gibbs|Frederic]], with whom he also founded [[Gibbs & Cox]] in 1922.


Gibbs died in [[New York City]].
== Gibbs & Cox ==


[[File:SS Leviathan by an unknown artist.jpg|thumb|right|{{ship|SS|Leviathan||6}} by an unknown artist (1925)]]
== References ==
In February 1922 the Gibbs brothers started their own naval architecture firm, Gibbs Brothers, Inc.; their first major contract was to convert the former German liner ''Vaterland'' into the American luxury liner {{ship|SS|Leviathan||6}}.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://cdnc.ucr.edu/?a=d&d=SPNP19271109.2.45 |title=Gibbs on Malolo |date=November 9, 1927 |newspaper=San Pedro News-Pilot |access-date=28 February 2020}}</ref> When shipbuilders [[Blohm + Voss]] asked over $1 million for the original plans, Gibbs decided to draw his own.<ref name=Bachman-71/>{{rp|49–50}} Between 100 and 150 draftsmen documented the existing ship and designed its new layout. Gibbs Brothers was renamed [[Gibbs & Cox]] in 1929.
===Notes===
{{reflist|2}}


[[File:Cover of Royal Hawaiian Hotel banquet menu for the first voyage of the S. S. Malolo.JPG|thumb|right|Cover of banquet menu for {{ship|SS|Malolo||6}} by [[Arman Manookian]] (1927)]]
===Books===
The Gibbs designed a series of four trim white-hulled ocean liners for the [[Matson Lines]] service to Hawaii, starting with the design of {{ship|SS|Malolo||6}} in 1924.<ref name=PMR-1924>{{cite magazine |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=RT8fAQAAMAAJ&pg=PA609 |title=The Matson Liner |date=December 1924 |page=609 |magazine=Pacific Marine Review: The National Magazine of Shipping |volume=XX |number=12 |access-date=28 February 2020}}</ref> ''Malolo'' was built at [[William Cramp & Sons]] under the Gibbs Brothers' exacting supervision and tolerances.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://cdnc.ucr.edu/?a=d&d=SPNP19241001.2.168 |title=New Express Ship Equipped for Use as War Auxiliary |date=October 1, 1924 |newspaper=San Pedro News-Pilot |access-date=28 February 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://cdnc.ucr.edu/?a=d&d=SPDN19261217.2.134 |title=Gibbs says private operation efficient; strict on Malolo |date=December 17, 1926 |newspaper=San Pedro Daily News |access-date=28 February 2020}}</ref> At the time she was launched, ''Malolo'' was the largest and fastest passenger liner built in the United States.<ref name=Bachman-71/>{{rp|50}} During sea trials in May 1927, ''Malolo'' was rammed by {{ship|SS|Jacob Christensen||6}}; the Gibbs brothers' modern design and safety features were credited with keeping the disabled ship afloat while she was towed back to the yard.<ref name=Bachman-71/>{{rp|50–51}}&nbsp;<ref>{{cite news |url=https://cdnc.ucr.edu/?a=d&d=SPNP19270525.2.22 |title=New $7,000,000 ship in crash off Nantucket |date=May 25, 1927 |newspaper=San Pedro News Pilot |access-date=27 February 2020}}</ref> Three sister ships to ''Malolo'' would be built in the 1930s: {{ship|SS|Monterey||6}} and {{ship|SS|Mariposa|1931|6}} in 1931 and {{ship|SS|Lurline|1932|6}} in 1932.
*{{cite book

The [[Grace Line]] contracted with Gibbs & Cox for four smaller 9,000 ton ocean liners in 1930, receiving the {{ship|SS|Santa Rosa|1932|6}}, {{ship|SS|Santa Paula|1932|2}}, {{ship|SS|Santa Lucia|1932|2}}, and {{ship|SS|Santa Elena|1932|2}} in 1932. Gibbs & Cox also designed the {{ship|SS|America|1940|6}} for the [[United States Lines]], which was completed in 1940. All nine of these ships served as U.S. troopships in the war.<ref name=Charles-47>{{cite book |url=https://history.army.mil/documents/WWII/wwii_Troopships.pdf |title=Troopships of World War II |author=Charles, Roland W. |date=April 1947 |publisher=The Army Transportation Association |location=Washington, D.C. |access-date=28 February 2020}}</ref>{{rp|198, 222–223, 226, 247, 249, 252–253}}

During the war, Gibbs & Cox created plans for thousands of American warships and cargo vessels, including [[destroyer]]s, [[Landing Ship, Tank|LST]] landing craft, [[minesweeper (ship)|minesweeper]]s, [[tanker (ship)|tanker]]s, [[cruiser]]s, and [[Liberty ship]]s. Between 1940 through 1946, 63 per cent of all merchant ships of 2,000 tons up and 74 per cent of all American naval vessels (destroyers, landing craft, escort carriers, etc.) were built to the designs or working plans of Gibbs & Cox.<ref>{{cite news |work=Forbes |year=1957 |title=The love affair of William Francis Gibbs |url=http://features.blogs.fortune.cnn.com/2012/04/15/william-francis-gibbs/ |author=Richard Austin Smith }}</ref>

After the war, the Gibbs brothers were among the promoters for the US government and military to subsidize the construction and operation of a new 1,000-foot ocean liner. After overcoming resistance in the Truman administration for government involvement and competing designs, Gibbs & Cox was awarded the contract to design and supervise the construction of the {{ship|SS|United States||6}}. This ship was the culmination of Gibbs career, and he was fastidious in the incorporation of fire safety concepts, to the point that the ''United States'' surpassed most present day passenger ships in fire prevention and containment. The design was also revolutionary in the use of lightweight materials and construction techniques, including a welded hull and aluminum superstructure. While rivaling the largest liners for physical size, she was much lighter, enabling higher speeds.

The ''United States'' entered service in 1952, after five years of design and 28 months of construction. On her maiden voyage, she won the [[Blue Riband]] as the fastest ship to cross the Atlantic Ocean, averaging {{convert|35.59|kn}},<ref name = NYT>{{cite news |url=https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1967/09/07/82606170.pdf |title=William Francis Gibbs Dead; Designed Liner United States |newspaper=[[The New York Times]] |date=September 7, 1967 |page=45}}</ref> and reducing the crossing time by 10 hours. Between 1952 and 1969, the ship completed 400 voyages, with an excellent safety record. She was the largest liner ever built in the United States and the fastest liner built anywhere. While fast and safe, she was panned by some passengers, as the use of exclusively fireproof materials in the décor and furnishings limited the aesthetic and luxury appeal.

In remarks accepting the Franklin Medal for his work in designing the ''United States,'' after recounting the ship's many achievements and the efforts of so many in making those achievements possible, Gibbs stated "''My sole contribution in this performance is the fact that I took the responsibility for failure.''"<ref>{{Cite journal |title=Acceptance Speech of William Francis Gibbs, "The SS United States" |journal=Journal of the Franklin Institute |volume=256 |issue=6 545–549 |date=December 1953}}</ref>

== Later years ==
[[File:Franklin Medal.jpg|thumb|Gibbs' Franklin Medal in the collection at The [[Mariners Museum]]]]
In 1953 Gibbs was awarded the [[Franklin Institute]]'s [[Franklin Medal]]. In 1955 he was awarded the first [[Elmer A. Sperry Award]]. He died in [[New York City]] on September 6, 1967, two weeks after his 81st birthday.

Fulton-Gibbs Hall, the marine engineering building at the [[United States Merchant Marine Academy]] at Kings Point, New York, is named in honor or Gibbs, along with [[Robert Fulton]]. The [[Gibbs Brothers Medal]], awarded by the [[United States National Academy of Sciences]] for outstanding contributions in the field of naval architecture and marine engineering, was established by a gift from Gibbs and his brother.

==References==
{{reflist}}

==Further reading==
* {{cite book
| last = Braynard
| last = Braynard
| first = Frank O.
| first = Frank O.
| author-link = Frank Braynard
| authorlink =
| title = By Their Works Ye Shall Know Them, The Life and Ships of William Francis Gibbs 1886–1967
| coauthors =
| title = By Their Works Ye Shall Know Them, The Life and Ships of William Francis Gibbs 1886-1967
| publisher = Gibbs & Cox, Inc
| publisher = Gibbs & Cox, Inc
| date = 1968
| year = 1968
}}
| location =
* {{cite book
| pages =
| url =
| last = Bachman
| doi =
| first = Walter C.
| title = Memorial Tributes: National Academy of Engineering, Volume 1
| id = }}
| publisher = National Academy of Engineering
| year = 1979
| pages = 77–83
| doi = 10.17226/578
| isbn = 978-0-309-02889-9
| url = http://books.nap.edu/openbook.php?record_id=578&page=77
}}
*{{cite book
| last = Ujifusa
| first = Steven
| title = A Man and His Ship: America's Greatest Naval Architect and His Quest to Build the S.S. United States
| publisher = Simon & Schuster
| year = 2012
| isbn = 978-1-4516-4507-1
}}


===Web===
==External links==
*{{commons category-inline}}
*{{cite web
| last = Gibbs & Cox
| first =
| authorlink =
| coauthors =
| title = A History of Gibbs & Cox, Inc.
| work =
| publisher =
| date =
| url = http://www.gibbscox.com/history.htm
| format =
| doi =
| accessdate = 2007-03-11}}
*{{cite web
| last = April
| first = Richard
| authorlink =
| coauthors =
| title = William Francis Gibbs, Creator of the Big Ship
| work =
| publisher =
| date = 2007-01-29
| url = http://www.ss-united-states.net/WebPages/PagesGibbs.htm
| format =
| doi =
| accessdate = 2007-03-11}}


{{Ocean liners designed by William Francis Gibbs}}{{Authority control}}


{{US-bio-stub}}
{{Engineer-stub}}


{{DEFAULTSORT:Gibbs, William Francis}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Gibbs, William Francis}}
[[Category:1886 births]]
[[Category:1886 births]]
[[Category:1967 deaths]]
[[Category:1967 deaths]]
[[Category:People from Philadelphia]]
[[Category:Harvard College alumni]]
[[Category:Engineers]]
[[Category:Columbia Law School alumni]]
[[Category:Engineers from Pennsylvania]]

[[Category:American naval architects]]
{{Persondata
[[Category:Burials at Princeton Cemetery]]
|NAME=Gibbs, William Francis
[[Category:Benjamin Franklin Medal (Franklin Institute) laureates]]
|ALTERNATIVE NAMES=
[[Category:Recipients of Franklin Medal]]
|SHORT DESCRIPTION=naval engineer, designer of the [[Liberty ships]]
|DATE OF BIRTH=[[August 24]], [[1886]]
|PLACE OF BIRTH=[[Philadelphia]]
|DATE OF DEATH=[[September 6]], [[1967]]
|PLACE OF DEATH=[[New York City]]
}}

[[es:William Francis Gibbs]]

Revision as of 02:57, 17 January 2024

William Francis Gibbs
Gibbs in 1924
BornAugust 24, 1886
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
DiedSeptember 6, 1967 (1967-09-07) (aged 81)
New York, New York, U.S.
NationalityAmerican
OccupationNaval architect

William Francis Gibbs (August 24, 1886 – September 6, 1967) was an American naval architect of the mid-twentieth century.

Although he began his career as an attorney, after World War I, he became recognized as a skilled project manager in the restoration of a former German ocean liner for American use. In 1922, in partnership with his brother Frederic Herbert Gibbs, he began the firm that would eventually become Gibbs & Cox; they were among the major designers of World War II-era warships and cargo vessels, including the Liberty ships and Fletcher-class destroyers. Gibbs was a pioneer in the areas of efficient hull design and propulsion, along with being a staunch advocate for high standards of fire prevention and hull integrity. Although the Liberty ships were designed with a priority of production simplicity and economy, other Gibbs designs tended to be sturdy, light, fast, safe, and enduring.

During the late 1940s and early 1950s, the Gibbs brothers were among the promoters leading the United States government and military to subsidize the cost of building the ultimate ocean liner. In the end, Gibbs and Cox was awarded the contract to design and supervise the building of SS United States, which entered service in 1952. While in the class of the largest liners, it was much lighter and considerably faster than contemporary vessels. It was built with a high emphasis on safety, using a minimum of flammable materials.

Early years

Gibbs was born in Philadelphia on August 24, 1886, to financier William Warren Gibbs and Frances Ayres (Johnson) Gibbs.[1]: 47  He graduated from the DeLancey School in 1905 then entered Harvard College where he followed his own curriculum of science and engineering, studying plans of British battleships in his dormitory room.[1]: 47–48  He left without a degree in 1910.[1]: 48  He then attended Columbia Law School from 1911 to 1913, receiving a Bachelor of Law and Master of Arts in economics, both in 1913.[1]: 48  At his father's request, he practiced law for the next two years.[1]: 48 

While working as a lawyer, Gibbs visited the family home each weekend and, together with his brother Frederic Herbert Gibbs, began designs for a 1,000-foot (300 m) long ocean liner,[1]: 48  each capable of producing 180,000 horsepower. The design had progressed to a point that he left the law firm in May 1915; in January 1916 the brothers presented their plans to Admiral David W. Taylor and Secretary of the Navy Josephus Daniels.[1]: 48  The response was encouraging, and the brothers, with the financial backing of J. P. Morgan and the United States Navy, then approached the International Mercantile Marine Company (IMMC) later that year.[1]: 48  Although a model was tested in the Experimental Model Basin at the Washington Navy Yard, World War I put an end to these early designs. Gibbs became Chief of Construction for IMMC in 1919.[1]: 49 

Gibbs & Cox

SS Leviathan by an unknown artist (1925)

In February 1922 the Gibbs brothers started their own naval architecture firm, Gibbs Brothers, Inc.; their first major contract was to convert the former German liner Vaterland into the American luxury liner SS Leviathan.[2] When shipbuilders Blohm + Voss asked over $1 million for the original plans, Gibbs decided to draw his own.[1]: 49–50  Between 100 and 150 draftsmen documented the existing ship and designed its new layout. Gibbs Brothers was renamed Gibbs & Cox in 1929.

Cover of banquet menu for SS Malolo by Arman Manookian (1927)

The Gibbs designed a series of four trim white-hulled ocean liners for the Matson Lines service to Hawaii, starting with the design of SS Malolo in 1924.[3] Malolo was built at William Cramp & Sons under the Gibbs Brothers' exacting supervision and tolerances.[4][5] At the time she was launched, Malolo was the largest and fastest passenger liner built in the United States.[1]: 50  During sea trials in May 1927, Malolo was rammed by SS Jacob Christensen; the Gibbs brothers' modern design and safety features were credited with keeping the disabled ship afloat while she was towed back to the yard.[1]: 50–51  [6] Three sister ships to Malolo would be built in the 1930s: SS Monterey and SS Mariposa in 1931 and SS Lurline in 1932.

The Grace Line contracted with Gibbs & Cox for four smaller 9,000 ton ocean liners in 1930, receiving the SS Santa Rosa, Santa Paula, Santa Lucia, and Santa Elena in 1932. Gibbs & Cox also designed the SS America for the United States Lines, which was completed in 1940. All nine of these ships served as U.S. troopships in the war.[7]: 198, 222–223, 226, 247, 249, 252–253 

During the war, Gibbs & Cox created plans for thousands of American warships and cargo vessels, including destroyers, LST landing craft, minesweepers, tankers, cruisers, and Liberty ships. Between 1940 through 1946, 63 per cent of all merchant ships of 2,000 tons up and 74 per cent of all American naval vessels (destroyers, landing craft, escort carriers, etc.) were built to the designs or working plans of Gibbs & Cox.[8]

After the war, the Gibbs brothers were among the promoters for the US government and military to subsidize the construction and operation of a new 1,000-foot ocean liner. After overcoming resistance in the Truman administration for government involvement and competing designs, Gibbs & Cox was awarded the contract to design and supervise the construction of the SS United States. This ship was the culmination of Gibbs career, and he was fastidious in the incorporation of fire safety concepts, to the point that the United States surpassed most present day passenger ships in fire prevention and containment. The design was also revolutionary in the use of lightweight materials and construction techniques, including a welded hull and aluminum superstructure. While rivaling the largest liners for physical size, she was much lighter, enabling higher speeds.

The United States entered service in 1952, after five years of design and 28 months of construction. On her maiden voyage, she won the Blue Riband as the fastest ship to cross the Atlantic Ocean, averaging 35.59 knots (65.91 km/h; 40.96 mph),[9] and reducing the crossing time by 10 hours. Between 1952 and 1969, the ship completed 400 voyages, with an excellent safety record. She was the largest liner ever built in the United States and the fastest liner built anywhere. While fast and safe, she was panned by some passengers, as the use of exclusively fireproof materials in the décor and furnishings limited the aesthetic and luxury appeal.

In remarks accepting the Franklin Medal for his work in designing the United States, after recounting the ship's many achievements and the efforts of so many in making those achievements possible, Gibbs stated "My sole contribution in this performance is the fact that I took the responsibility for failure."[10]

Later years

Gibbs' Franklin Medal in the collection at The Mariners Museum

In 1953 Gibbs was awarded the Franklin Institute's Franklin Medal. In 1955 he was awarded the first Elmer A. Sperry Award. He died in New York City on September 6, 1967, two weeks after his 81st birthday.

Fulton-Gibbs Hall, the marine engineering building at the United States Merchant Marine Academy at Kings Point, New York, is named in honor or Gibbs, along with Robert Fulton. The Gibbs Brothers Medal, awarded by the United States National Academy of Sciences for outstanding contributions in the field of naval architecture and marine engineering, was established by a gift from Gibbs and his brother.

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l Bachman, Walter C. (1971). William Francis Gibbs, 1886–1967: A Biographical Memoir (PDF) (Report). National Academy of Sciences.
  2. ^ "Gibbs on Malolo". San Pedro News-Pilot. November 9, 1927. Retrieved 28 February 2020.
  3. ^ "The Matson Liner". Pacific Marine Review: The National Magazine of Shipping. Vol. XX, no. 12. December 1924. p. 609. Retrieved 28 February 2020.
  4. ^ "New Express Ship Equipped for Use as War Auxiliary". San Pedro News-Pilot. October 1, 1924. Retrieved 28 February 2020.
  5. ^ "Gibbs says private operation efficient; strict on Malolo". San Pedro Daily News. December 17, 1926. Retrieved 28 February 2020.
  6. ^ "New $7,000,000 ship in crash off Nantucket". San Pedro News Pilot. May 25, 1927. Retrieved 27 February 2020.
  7. ^ Charles, Roland W. (April 1947). Troopships of World War II (PDF). Washington, D.C.: The Army Transportation Association. Retrieved 28 February 2020.
  8. ^ Richard Austin Smith (1957). "The love affair of William Francis Gibbs". Forbes.
  9. ^ "William Francis Gibbs Dead; Designed Liner United States" (PDF). The New York Times. September 7, 1967. p. 45.
  10. ^ "Acceptance Speech of William Francis Gibbs, "The SS United States"". Journal of the Franklin Institute. 256 (6 545–549). December 1953.

Further reading

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