Port Mahon Dockyard[1] was a Royal Navy Dockyard located at Port Mahon, Menorca, Spain. It was opened in 1708 and in 1802 the port was ceded back to Spain. However a resident commissioner of the Royal Navy was still appointed as late as 1814. The dockyard was administered by the Navy Board and was part of the Mediterranean Fleet.
Port Mahon Dockyard | |
|---|---|
| Part of Mediterranean Fleet | |
| Port Mahon, Menorca, Spain | |
 Port Mahon c. 1795, by John Thomas Serres | |
| Site information | |
| Operator | Royal Navy |
| Controlled by | The Navy Board (1708-1802) |
| Site history | |
| In use | 1708-1802 |
| Fate | Now in use as a commercial port |
History
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The Port Mahon Dockyard was established at Port Mahon, one of the world's deepest natural harbours, in 1708, following orders issued by the Admiralty to Admiral Sir George Byng the Commander-in-Chief of the Mediterranean Squadron. He was instructed to develop the Port of Mahon as a naval base following the capture of Minorca.[2] The dockyard was located on the north side of the harbour, opposite Port Mahon town. In 1756 control of the dockyard was fought over during the Battle of Minorca (1756). During the 1760s naval storehouses were constructed. The dockyard was the Royal Navy's principal Mediterranean base for much of the eighteenth century; however the territory changed hands more than once in that time, before being finally ceded to Spain in 1802.[3]
The dockyard was administered by the Navy Board and was part of the Mediterranean Station.
Administration of the dockyard and other key officials
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The Master Shipwright was the key official at the royal navy dockyards until the introduction of resident commissioners by the Navy Board after which he became deputy to the resident commissioner. In 1832 the post of commissioner was replaced by the post of superintendent.
Resident Commissioner of the Navy, Port Mahon
editPost holders included:[4][5][6]
- 1742-1744, Commodore Edward Falkingham, (also resident commissioner of the navy for Gibraltar)
- 1744-1747, Captain Thomas Trefusis, (ditto)
- 1747-1756, Captain John Towry, (ditto)
- 1756-1763, Captain Charles Colby, (ditto)
- 1798, Captain Issac Coffin
- 1814-1815, Captain Sir Jahleel Brenton (acting) [7]
Naval Officer, Port Mahon
editPost holders included:[8]
- 1727 Jun-Sep, Daniel Furzer
- 1727-1728, John Cook
- 1728-1731, Robert Hayes
- 1731-1734, Robert Gother
- 1734-1742, Thomas Sims
- 1755-1756, Milbourne Marsh
Master Shipwright, Port Mahon
editPost holders included:[9]
- 1711-1728, Cornelius Purnell
- 1742-1760, John Varlo
Master Attendant, Port Mahon
editPost holders included:[10]
- 1712-1720, Thomas Teddiman
- 1742-1744, Michael Pinfold
- 1744-1746, William Cumby
- 1746-1755, Mathew Moriarty
Clerk of the Cheque, Port Mahon
editPost holders included:[11]
- 1716-1718, George Atkins
- 1718-1719, John Laton
- 1719-1723, John Reynolds
- 1738-1739, Christopher Robinson
- 1739-1742, Francis Gregson
- 1742-1748, Tyringham Stephens
Storekeeper, Port Mahon
editPost holders included:[12]
- 1716 Jan-Sep, George Atkins
- 1718-1719, John Laton
- 1719-1723, John Reynolds
- 1738-1739, Christopher Robinson
- 1739-1746, Francis Gregson
- 1746-1753, Thomas Foxworthy
- 1763-1765, Milbourne Marsh
- 1765 May-Nov, Milburn Warren
- 1780, Christopher Hill Harris
Ships built at the dockyard
editThe Sloop of war HMS Minorca was built at the dockyard in 1779. In 1798 the 18 gun brig sloop HMS Port Mahon was also constructed here.
Citations
edit- ^ Archives, National (1708–1802). "Royal Naval dockyard staff: Port Mahon Dockyard on Minorca". The National Archives. London, England: The National Archives. Retrieved 4 January 2019.
- ^ Owen, John Hely (2010). War at Sea Under Queen Anne 1702-1708. Cambridge, England: Cambridge University Press. p. 100. ISBN 9781108013383.
- ^ Dickinson, H. T. (2008). A Companion to Eighteenth-Century Britain. Hoboken, New Jersey, United States: John Wiley & Sons. p. 485. ISBN 9780470998878.
- ^ Clowes, Sir William Laird (1897–1903). The royal navy, a history from the earliest times to the present Volume III. London, England: S. Low Marston. p. 4.
- ^ Clowes, Sir William Laird (1897–1903). The royal navy, a history from the earliest times to the present Volume III. London, England: S. Low Marston. p. 327.
- ^ Baugh, Daniel A. (2015). "Overseas Bases". British Naval Administration in the Age of Walpole. Princeton, United States: Princeton University Press. p. 7. ISBN 9781400874637.
- ^ Admiralty, Great Britain (1814). "Civil Service". The Navy List. London, England: H.M. Stationery Office. p. 118.
- ^ Harrison, Simon (2010–2018). "Naval Officer at Port Mahon". threedecks.org. S. Harrison. Retrieved 4 January 2019.
- ^ Harrison, Simon (2010–2018). "Master Shipwright at Port Mahon". threedecks.org. S. Harrison. Retrieved 4 January 2019.
- ^ Harrison, Simon (2010–2018). "Master Attendant at Port Mahon". threedecks.org. S, Harrison. Retrieved 4 January 2019.
- ^ Harrison, Simon (2010–2018). "Clerk of the Cheque at Port Mahon". threedecks.org. S. Harrison. Retrieved 4 January 2019.
- ^ Harrison, Simon (2010–2018). "Storekeeper at Port Mahon". threedecks.org. S, Harrison. Retrieved 4 January 2019.
Sources
edit- Archives, National (1708–1802). "Royal Naval dockyard staff: Port Mahon Dockyard on Minorca". The National Archives. London, England.
- Baugh, Daniel A. (2015). "Overseas Bases". British Naval Administration in the Age of Walpole. Princeton, United States: Princeton University Press. ISBN 9781400874637.
- Clowes, Sir William Laird (1897–1903). The royal navy, a history from the earliest times to the present Volume III. London, England: S. Low Marston.
- Dickinson, H. T. (2008). A Companion to Eighteenth-Century Britain. Hoboken, New Jersey, United States: John Wiley & Sons. ISBN 9780470998878.
- Harrison, Simon, (2010-2018). https://threedecks.org/Port Mahon.
- Owen, John Hely (2010). War at Sea Under Queen Anne 1702-1708. Cambridge, England: Cambridge University Press. ISBN 9781108013383.