Thames Marine History
The timeline below shows a few key developments and other related events which led to the Thames becoming, for a while, the world centre
for marine technology during the 19th century. To view in a simpler table format press here
1800
- 1800 Richard Trevithick introduced the use of high pressure steam.
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Richard Trevithick introduced the use of high pressure steam at a Cornish mine. Pressure was
around 40 psi; about ten times the pressure used in Watt engines. High pressure steam engines
were lighter so could be used for all forms of mechanised transport unlike the massive James
Watt beam engines.
- 1801 Charlotte Dundas built by William Symington.
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Charlotte Dundas built by William Symington for towing work on the Forth & Clyde Canal.
- 1812 New Locks on Thames
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Until this time the Thames was tidal up to Staines. Each lock built lower downriver needed an act of
Parliament. The new locks now made the river non tidal above Teddington.
- 1814 Comet - First Successful Passenger Boat
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In 1812 Henry Bell commissioned his steam-boat the Comet, of 30 tons displacement, with an engine of three horsepower.
The Comet, named after a great comet which had been visible for several months in 1811-12, was constructed by Messrs John Wood and Co.
In August 1814 Bell advertised a passenger service on the Comet between Glasgow, Greenock and Helensburgh three times a week,
returning on alternate days.
- 1815 PS Margery - First use of a steamboat on the Thames
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PS Margery - First use of a steamboat on the Thames between London and Gravesend.
PS Richmond may have started taking passengers in 1813
- 1832 First practical electric motors being developed
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First practical electric motors being developed.
- 1835 Screw Propeller patented by Francis Pettit Smith
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The screw Propeller was patented by Francis Pettit Smith in 1835. However there is a great deal on controversy
over who actually invented the propeller. In truth the idea had been around for centuries and the advent of steam
propulsion renewed interest at around the same time from a number of people. These include James Steadman, Robert Wilson and Richard Jordan Gatling.
- 1837 Queen Victoria accession to the throne
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Queen Victoria accession to the throne.
- 1838 Great Western
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Great Western - a wooden paddle steamer makes the first crossing of the Atlantic by steam power alone.
- 1839 SS Archimedes - first successful use of a propeller
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SS Archimedes - Built on the Thames in London was the first successful use of a propeller instead of the paddle wheel. Circumnavigated the UK in 1840;
influenced Isambard Brunel to use screw rather than paddle for the SS Great Britain.
- 1843 SS Great Britain built by Brunel
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SS Great Britain built by Brunel - first iron screw steamer providing an Atlantic passenger service
- 1843 HMS Rattler
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HMS Rattler - built at Sheerness was the first naval ship fitted with a propeller. There were a series
of trials; screw versus paddle, the screw always proved superior in pull and speed.
Most famous against paddler HMS Alecto in 1845.
1850
- 1857 Thames Conservancy formed
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Thames Conservancy formed.
- 1858 Nautilus - first Thornycroft steam launch built
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Nautilus - first steam launch built by J.I. Thornycroft on the Thames completed 1863.
- 1859 Re-chargeable electric battery invented
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Re-chargeable electric battery invented - lead acid type.
- 1865 Headly & Yarrow Company formed
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Alfred Yarrow establishes Headly & Yarrow Company on the Thames at Poplar.
- 1866 Thames Conservancy assumes navigation responsibility
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Thames Conservancy assumes responsibility for the river navigation
from Lechlade to Teddington.
- 1867 First "practical" dynamos invented
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First "practical" dynamos invented independently by Siemens and Wheatstone.
Providing a means of recharging the lead acid cells (ie secondary battery).
- 1869 Cutty Sark - maiden voyage
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Cutty Sark - maiden voyage.
- 1870 Thames Conservancy weed clearance starts.
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Thames Conservancy starts to clear the weed obstructing steam screw
powered vessel navigation.
- 1870 Cygnet - built by J.I. Thornycroft at Chiswick; yard no. 9
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Cygnet - built by J.I. Thornycroft at Chiswick; yard no. 9
Now on static display at Beale Park.
- 1870 Miranda, built by Thornycroft, exceeds 18 knots
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Miranda - built by Thornycroft, yard no.10 astonishes naval experts with a speed in
excess of 18 knots. A paper was given to the Institute of Naval Architects by Professor Bramwell
- 1871 first use of a steam launch the Henley Royal Regatta
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Thought to be first use of a steam launch to carry umpires at the Henley Royal
Regatta, possibly using Thornycroft steam launch Ariel
- 1873 Eva - built by J.I. Thornycroft
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Eva - built by J.I. Thornycroft yard no 34 also used for umpire duty before cabin fitted.
Restored to full working order, now on display as a static exhibit at
the Henley River and Rowing Museum.
- 1875 Rap - first torpedo boat supplied to Norway
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Rap - first torpedo boat supplied to Norway - using spar torpedoes.
On display at a Museum in Norway.
- 1875 G.F.G. Desvignes starts 20 years of umpire launch building
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G.F.G. Desvignes built the umpire launches for the Henley Royal Regatta for the
next 20 years
- 1876 Otto patented the four stroke engine principle
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Otto patented the four stroke engine principle which lead to the development
of the successful Internal Combustion engine, by others.
- 1876 Lightning - first torpedo boat built by Thornycroft for the Admiralty
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Lightning - first torpedo boat built by Thornycroft for the Admiralty to carry
the new self propelled Whitehead torpedoes. Large numbers of torpedo boats were
made for the Admiralty and navy's around the world by Thornycroft and Yarrow
- 1882 Electricity - the first electric launch on the Thames
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Electricity - the first electric launch on the Thames.
- 1887 Yarrow patented a three drum design watertube boiler
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Yarrow patented a three drum design watertube boiler. Lighter water tube boilers
were now being use in naval vessels instead of the heavier loco types.
- 1888 Alaska starts Salters passenger steamboat service
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Salters passenger steamboat service started between Oxford and Kingston with Alaska.
- 1889 Electric launch hire business starts on the Thames
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Moritz Immisch employed Magnus Volk as manager to develop an electric launch hire
business based at Platts Ayot. Steam dynamo stations were set up on barges at various
locations on the Thames for re-charging batteries.
- 1893 Hibernia achieves 28 mph
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Hibernia - at 28 mph was fastest steam launch on the Thames, built by G.F.G. Desvignes
for umpire use.
- 1893 Daring, Decoy, Havock, Hornet
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Daring (immediately below), Decoy, Havock (below) and Hornet were the first of a new class of warship called
torpedo boat destroyer commissioned by the Admiralty from Thornycroft and Yarrow
respectively at their Thames yards.
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- 1893 HMS Speedy - last large warship built at Chiswick
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HMS Speedy - the last large warship built by Thornycroft at Chiswick.
To fit under London’s bridges, masts and funnels had to be removed and replaced downriver
and Greenhithe, near Dartford. The picture above shows the launch of HMS Speedy in May, 1893
- 1893 Lodona - built for Mr Palmer of Huntley and Palmers
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Lodona - built by Kingdon Yacht, Launch and Engineering Co. Ltd (G.F.G Desvignes)
for Mr Palmer of Huntley and Palmers of Reading. 1923 purchase by the Thames Conservancy
renamed Donola used as inspection launch until 1969.
Now owned by the National Maritime Museum and held in store - not currently on
public display
- 1897 Turbinia - first successful use of steam turbines.
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Turbinia - built by Charles Parsons, first successful vessel using steam turbines.
On static display at the Museum of Discovery Newcastle upon Tyne.
- 1898 Consuta - built by S.E. Saunders at Goring
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Consuta - built by S.E. Saunders at Goring using the patented Consuta plywood.
Restored 2001 and now operational on the Thames each year.
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