The concept of Royal Navy bomb vessels was first proposed by naval draughtsman Edward Dummer, who observed their French counterparts in action in the 1684 Bombardment of Genoa. Dummer was unable to go aboard any of the French bomb vessels, but took detailed sketches of their design and operation and was later granted an audience to present these to King Charles II of England later that year. Royal approval was granted in 1687 for two Royal Navy bomb vessels, to be built in accordance with Dummer's drawings and named "Salamander" and "Firedrake".