New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1910-05-02
Former Chief Constructor of
Navy Expires at Washington.

Washington Nav Rear Admiral Philip
Ffichborn. retired. who was chief constructor
OF the navy. died tonight after long ill
ness. He was seventv-one years old.
The admiral had been Ill for the past
two months. being confined TO the house
practically all of the time, suffering from
arteriaI scIerosis. Last Wednesday he had
s cerebral hemorrhage and to-day had an
other attack from which he did not rally.
With him at the time Of his death was
his wife. son and son-in-lav. His dauEh-
ter. Mrs. P 8. Pearsall. was not there. She
was formerly Mrs James q. Blaine. jr,
from whom she got divorce.
Further than that the burial will be in
Mount Auburn Cemetery, Cam bridge Mas
no funeral arrangements have been made
Rear Admiral Philip Hichhorn. one Of the
sblest naval men in American history was
born at Charlestovn. Mass. in 1889, CT
stock thst contributed to the sinevs of Co
IonisI independence Deborah Hichborr Re
ing the mother of Paul Revere. and which
later developed into one of the renowned
shipbulding families Of New England.
From shipwright apprentice at the Boston
Navy Yard, Admiral Hichborn rose steadily
through the various grades Of the construc-
1893. he was appointed chief Of the Bureau
OF Construction and Repair, the highest
place in the construction corps. remaining
there for eight years, when he was retired.
In 1883 when Congress determined to re-
organize the navy. Admiral Hichborn, then
q naval constructor was chosen 10 serve
as a member OF the first naval advisory
board. and four years later was selected
by Secretary Chandler to go abroad in the
capacity OF naval expert and investigate
naval progress in Europe. He had been al
ways a stanch advocate of sheathed ships
and. in the face OF strong opposition. sue
Ceeded in having this type Of vessels intro
duced in the navy.
Following his early education at the
Boston High School, he entered the navy
and received course of special instruc-
ton, calculation and design. supplement-
AIRY to his five years tuition as ship
Vright's apprentice at the Boston navy
yard. He gained considerable experience
on his one hundred and fifty day voyage
from Boston 70 California On his return
ne entered the navy yard al Mare Island,
where he remained for two years, and
often had full charge Of the department in
the absence of the naval constructor.
For six years Admiral Hichborn was a
member of the Board Of Inspection and
Survey. In 1881 he was made a member
of the First Naval Advisory Board, and
was prominently associated with all mat
tiers affecting the designing and construc-
ton Of the new naval vessels. He was
for many years a member Of the Institu-
ton Of Naval Architects of Eng and.
He had devoted a good deal Of time 10
literary work. chiefly on subjects Of e
professional nature. His article upon
shea thed or Unsheathed Ships" published
in 1890. provoked editorial discussion
throughout the United States. Besides his
professional and executive ability, Mr.,
Hichborn had strong inventive turn of
mind.
Admiral Hichboru was a member Of the
Bunker Hill Monument Association and
the Charitable Mechanics Association of
Boston. lie was the author Of European
Dock Yards and STANDARD Boats" and
invented the Franklin life buoy and the
Hichborn balanced turrets. He married il
1875 Miss Jennie NJ. Franklin, Of Vermont.