William Francis Gibbs

Infobox Person
name = William Francis Gibbs

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caption = William Francis Gibbs
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birth_date = August 24, 1886
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death_date = September 6, 1967
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nationality = United States
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known_for = Liberty ships
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occupation = naval architect
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William Francis Gibbs (August 24, 1886 – September 6, 1967) was a renowned naval architect who directed the mass production of cargo ships for the United States during World War II, including the famous Liberty ships, of which 2,751 were built. In partnership with his brother Frederic Herbert Gibbs, he designed the passenger liner SS "United States" (1952).

Gibbs was born in Philadelphia to financier William Warren Gibbs and Frances Ayres (Johnson) Gibbs. He graduated from the DeLancey School in 1905, followed his own curriculum of science and engineering at Harvard University, where he studied plans of British battleships in his dormitory room but left without degree, then attended Columbia Law School 1911-1913, receiving a Bachelor of Law and Master of Arts in economics. He practiced law for the next two years at his father's request.

In 1915, however, Gibbs and his brother began designs for a pair of gigantic 1,000-foot ocean liners, each capable of producing 180,000 horsepower. In 1916 the brothers presented their plans to Adm. David W. Taylor and Secretary of the Navy Josephus Daniels. The response was encouraging, and the brothers then approached the International Mercantile Marine Company with the financial backing of J. P. Morgan and the United States Navy. Although a model was tested in the Navy's David Taylor Model Basin, World War I put an end to these early designs. Gibbs became the company's Chief of Construction in 1919.

In 1922 the Gibbs brothers started their own naval architecture firm, Gibbs Brothers, Inc. (renamed Gibbs & Cox in 1929). Their first major contract was to convert the former German liner "Vaterland" into the American luxury liner SS "Leviathan". When shipbuilders Blohm + Voss asked over $1 million for the original plans, Gibbs decided to draw his own. Between 100 and 150 draftsmen documented the existing ship and designed its new layout. After rebuilding at Newport News, the "Leviathan" ultimately became one of the era's most successful luxury liners.

The Gibbs designed a series of trim ocean liners for Matson Lines starting with SS "Malolo" in 1925 and continuing with SS "Monterey" and SS "Mariposa" in 1931 and SS "Lurline" in 1932. Matson enjoyed heightened tourism from the United States to Hawaii with their fleet of fast white ships. Grace Line contracted with Gibbs & Cox for four smaller 9,000 tonne ocean liners in 1930, receiving "Santa Rosa", "Santa Paula", "Santa Lucia", and "Santa Elena" in 1932. All would serve as troopships in World War II.

During the war, Gibbs & Cox created plans for thousands of American warships, including destroyers, LST landing craft, minesweepers, tankers, cruisers, liberty ships, etc. Some 74% of all American naval vessels built during the war were of Gibbs & Cox design.

After World War II, the Gibbs brothers again began design for a new 1,000-foot ocean liner. After five years of design and 28 months of construction, the SS "United States" was launched. On her maiden voyage in 1952, she became the fastest ship to cross the Atlantic Ocean, averaging 35.59 knots, and reducing the crossing time by 10 hours. Between 1952 and 1969, the SS "United States" completed 400 problem-free voyages. She was the largest liner ever built in the United States and the fastest liner built anywhere.

Gibbs died in New York City. 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

Notes

Books

*cite book
last = Braynard
first = Frank O.
authorlink = Frank Braynard
coauthors =
title = By Their Works Ye Shall Know Them, The Life and Ships of William Francis Gibbs 1886-1967
publisher = Gibbs & Cox, Inc
year = 1968
location =
pages =
url =
doi =
id =
*cite book
last = Bachman
first = Walter C.
authorlink =
coauthors =
title = Memorial Tributes: National Academy of Engineering, Volume 1
publisher = National Academy of Engineering
year = 1979
location =
pages = 77-83.
url = http://books.nap.edu/openbook.php?record_id=578&page=77
doi =
id =
*cite book
last =
first =
authorlink =
coauthors =
title = Current Biography
publisher = H.W. Wilson Company
year = 1945
location =
pages = 227-228
url =
doi =
id =

Web

*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

Persondata
NAME=Gibbs, William Francis
ALTERNATIVE NAMES=
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