The Brattleboro reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1907-1912, 1910-05-06
"FATHER OF THE
AMERICAN NAVY"
Death Of Rear Admiral Philip
Hiehborn Sunday.
WIFE WAS A rowSsnENp GIRL
rTcmlaeai Figure IN Navy Circles
Was Also inyeasoT Of Several I'm
pertain, Marine Appliances Ere,
qnsn,ly Visited in nfa,,lebofo.

qusn,ly Visited in nfa,sssbofe,
Rrar Admiral Philip hlshl.oFp, L, ; \.
retired. Nhs enjoyed the dlslineiion a
having Won hls Nay iFom an appI.n,isr
ship in the ehaTlssioNn navy yard Ia
the highest rank now eonisIrl in tbs
American navy. except b. sI-oiAl az, II
sonpos.. and who probably had as much
10 do az anyone with the designing aud
upbullding Al the nsw steel navy, died On
sunday night Al his home in Washington
Admiral llirhhorn had hsen ~ ior tao
months, suffering from hardening Of the
arisfirs,
Philip Hichlorn sas born Ia ChsIlrs.
ioan. Macs. March Z. ls9. the son II
Philip aud Martha Gouh lllrhloTn, lie
aas graduated from the Charlcsi0Nn high
srhool with SAMUEL PAsoo. Who IN after
lh. MAS a United States senator ifoin
FLORIDA, and the iwa wrrr the only boys
ia the class, For a lew months young
lliehhorn served a. assistant socrviay 10
the then uommandani 81 the yard Rear
Admiral y. II. GwgoIy. Then he became
lndcntufed a. a shipgnshts apprentice
iher. and during his tenn Of scfsicc he
studied with a night class from which he
was graduated in 1853 When he had r.
cciycd his certificate for completing the
live years apprenticeship Il was arranged
ioT him % frceive a course IN theoretical
training IN ship designing and calculations
and he Immediately displayed remarkable
ability, This course Wa obtained on the
recommendation oi Admiral Gregory,
In August. ISL. young lilchborn sailed
ON the clipper ship Dashing Wave for San
Francisco. going ON a. a carpenter, For
short time he was in the employ OF the Pa
citic Mail and the California Steam Nayi'
CATION companies. lie next entered the
Mare Island navy yard, To serve under the
man who had charge Of his training a.
an apprentice al Charlesiown and who had
afterwards gone to California and been APP
pointed a naval constructor, Melvin 81
monds llichborn was iirst employed a.
journeyman shipwught hut his ability and
ambition quickly secured an advancement
20 timber Inspector from that 10 quarter.
man draughtsman and then 10 quarterman
.hipwrght.
By order Of the navy department he was
appointed master shipwrighi on Sept ~,
1862. and there are few instances on record
where a man Of his age was intrusted with
N responsible position IN navy yani,
he at times having charge OF about one
thousand men. Two years later was ten.
dered an appointment as assistant naval
but this he declined because
his salary as master shipwright was much
more. In 1869. however. he made appllca'
ton, successfully passed a rigid examlna'
ton and was appointed on June ~ a an
assistant naval constructor, with the rank
of lieutenant.
On March u. 1875, he was advanced to
naval constructor after having outstrpped
all competitors at the examination.
In December. 1875. he reported for duty
at the navy yard, Philadelphia, relieving
Naval Constructor Edward Hart. At this
time the old yard was being abandoned
and a large share OF this important work
devolved upon the naval constructor. MIR,
Ilichborn took an active part by special in
vitation in all naval matters and i'm
portant ceremonies connected with the
Centennial Exhibition Of 1876. In 1880 he
was selected by Secretary Hunt as mem
Der of the first naval advisory board, from
the organization of which was given the
first impulse to navy reconstruction.
In June, 1884, he was selected by the
secretary of the navy for special duty, |
and made tour of the dockyards OF Eu. |
rope, covering nearly five months travel. |
Upon his return he submitted a report |
to the department and the fact that con |
gress authorized two editions of this work
showed its value.
In November. 1884, Mr. Hichbon was
ordered to duty at the navy depar' ment,
Washington, as assistant to the chlef OF
the bureau OF construction and repair
He was a member of the general naval
board of inspection and survey, and also
continued with the general advisory board |
of the navy.
The "Hichborn turrets,' as they were
Familiarity known throughout the world,
were of his designing and were a great
success. As a member of the board of
lifeboats he designed the Franklin life
bouy, later adopted for use in the navy
and on merchant ships. For many years
Naval Constructor Hichborn was a mem
Der of the Institution of Naval Architects
of England and the Naval Institute at An
napolis.
Nearly all of the models for the ships
of the earlier period of the new navy
were made under Mr.. Hichborn's super.
vision. In 1900 he was awarded a gold
medal for exhibits at the Paris Exposition.
He became chief naval constructor on July
y, 1893, with the rank of commodore, and
in September, 1897, he was reappointed
with the rank or rear-admlral w nile
chief of the bureau Admiral Hichborn
had general supervision of the preparation
of the American ships for the War with
Spain. His success called forth much
praise, and when Secretary Long accepted
his resignation in 1901, he publicly COM
mended him for his long and faithful ser
vice
In November, 1875, Admiral Hichborn
married Miss Jennie NJ. Franklin of Town
shend, VT, sister of Col. A. B. Franklin
Of that town. Until within few years
he had been frequent visitor in Brattle.
boro and Townshend, spending part of
several summers as guest at the Brooks
House. Besides his widow Admiral HIGH
born is survived by one son and one
laughter. He was a 32d. degree Mason
md member Of numerous naval organi-
cations.