Title
Archive of Simon Goodrich, mechanist to the Navy Board
Reference
GOOD
Production date
1797 - 1847
Creator
- Goodrich, SimonBiographyBiography
(1773-1847), engineer and mechanician to the Navy Board
Goodrich was born on the 28th of October 1773 however little is known about his early life. In December 1796 he was appointed a draftsman to the mechanist in the office of Sir Samuel Bentham (1757–1831), inspector-general of naval works. Goodrich was chief assistant to Sir Samuel Bentham and he carried out the various schemes of improvement instigated by Bentham for the dockyards. Goodrich was also heavily involved in the introduction of steam power and the establishment at Portsmouth and other dockyards of mills for working wood and metal, the block-making machinery mills, mills for making cordage and rope, and the millwright's workshop.
The engineer Joshua Field was a pupil of Goodrich from 1803-1805. In April 1814 Goodrich was appointed engineer and mechanist to the Navy Board, and after Bentham left, he managed the engineering works of the dockyards, and acted as a consultant to the Navy Board on engineering matters. This entailed residence at Portsmouth, until his retirement in 1831.
Goodrich was elected a corresponding member of the Institution of Civil Engineers in December 1820, and transferred to membership in December 1837. Goodrich moved to Lisbon in 1834 and died there on 3 September 1847, his importance unrecognized by an obituary.
Scope and Content
Collection of papers relating to the work of Simon Goodrich, engineer and mechanist to the Navy Board, especially to his years at Portsmouth Dock Yard, comprising correspondence, reports, journals, memoranda books, printed material, drawings etc.
Extent
35 boxes
Language
English
Level of description
TOP
Repository name
Science Museum, London
Conditions governing access
Open Access
Conditions governing Reproduction
Copies may be supplied in accordance with current copyright legislation and Science Museum Group terms and conditions
External document
System of arrangement
Arranged in sections: A) more than 2,000 papers (numbered 1 to 1,860); B) journals and memoranda books; C) c.380 drawings; D) c.40 printed items etc.; E) miscellaneous