William Sutherland

'Tis the Product of 32 Years Study and Experience; for 'tis very well known that I have been so long imploy'd in her Majesty's Service, and that of her Royal Predecessors; so that I may say, I was in a manner born a Seaman, as most of my Ancestors were. My Grandfather was Foreman to the Shipwright in her Majesty's Yard at Deptford 30 Years, my Uncle Mr. Bagwell died Master Builder of her Majesty's Yard at Portsmouth, my Father and several of my Relations were Master Carpenters in the Royal Navy, and I myself have had the Honour to act in the Quality of Master Carpenter of three of her Majesty's Ships, and for 15 Years last past have served her Majesty, in the Inspction and Direction of the Work done by part of the Shipwrights at Portsmouth and Deptford Yards. During which time I have made it my Study to forward Youth, and make them expert in the Art of Shipbuilding.

c1685

Born.

1740

Died.

Printed Works

1711

The Ship-Builders Assistant: or, some Essays Towards Compleating the Art of Marine Architecture: viz.
I. A General Introduction, wherein is consider'd the Solid of Least Resistance, so far as relates to the Formation of a Ship's Body, &c.
II. Observations for Regulating the Price of Timber, taken from the Proportion of its different Dimensions; with Estimates of the Value of Oak Timber, and several other Materials relating to Naval Stores.
III. Rules for Building the Hull of any Sort of Ships. To which is added the Scantling or Measuring of Ship-Timbers, and some Directions about Moulding them.
IV. A New Method for finding the Tunnage of any Ship.
V. Rules for Proportioning the Rigging.
To which is Annexed, an Explication of the Principal Terms used in this Art.
The whole Illustrated with many Schemes proper to each Part, most of them from Copper Plates.
Printed for R. Mount, A. Bell & R. Smith, London, 1711 (1st). -4to, 16×11 cm, (12), 165 pp, ill., 13 fold. plates (some coloured).
Facsimile: Jean Boudriot Publications, Rotherfield, 1989.

A cancellandum titlepage has the imprint: Printed for A. Bell … and R. Smith … Other editions 1721 (?), 1726 (2nd), 1740, 1755, 1766, 1784, 1794 and 1840.
References: Private Collection*; MaB*; PEM*; NMM; RCA Bibl; NUC; Adams.

1717

Britain's Glory: or, Shipbuilding Unvail'd being a general Director for building and completing the said Machines.
Printed for Tho. Norris, Eben. Tracy, Arthur Bettesworth, & Benj. Pickard, London, 1717 (1st). Folio, 27×14.5 cm, fp, xxvi, 134, (4), ill., 6 fold. plates.

The second part Prices of the Ship-Building Adjusted printed the same year. See below. Other editions 1722, 1725, 1726, 1729 and 1740.
References: Private Collection*; MaB*; NMM; Adams.

1717

Prices of the Shipbuilding Adjusted: or, the Mystery of Ship-Building Unveiled. Being a Brief Explanation of the Value of the Labouring Part in Ship-Building; from a Ship of the biggest Magnitude to a small boat. First, Shewing the Working the whole Ship, according to the Length, Breadth, Depth and Girth; and then by Sub-divisions shews the value of every particular Part.
D.L., London, 1717. Folio, 27×14,5, 286 pp, ill.

Second part of Britain's Glory: or, Shipbuilding Unvail'd, 1717.
References: Private Collection*; Adams.

1722

Britain's Glory: or, Shipbuilding Unvail' being a general Director for building and completing the said Machines.
J. Clark, London, 1722. 35 cm, xxvi, 286 pp.

The 1717 edition reissued with a new titlepage pasted onto the stubbs of the old one. First edition 1717.
References: NMM; Library Company of Philadelphia/NUC; RCA, MM 38 (1952), p 231.

1725

Britain's Glory; or Ship-Building Unvail'd.
Mount and Page, London, 1725. 4to, ?? pp.
First edition 1717. Possibly a misprint for 1726.
References: Sotheby's sale 9 July 1909. Lot 719 [MM 72, p 478].

1726

Britain's Glory: or, Ship-Building Unvail'd, being a General Director, for Building and Compleating the said Machines.
John Clarke, London, 1726 (2nd). 4to, 29x18 cm, xxvi, 134 pp, ill. & (4), 286 pp, ill.

Two parts in one volume, part one is second edition, part two from 1717. First edition 1717.
References: KÖS*; NUC; Adams

1726

The Shipbuilders Assistant: or, some Essays towards completing the Art of Marine Architecture, viz.
I. A General Introduction, wherein is considered the Solid of least Resistance, so far as relates to the Formation of a Ship's, Body &c.
II. Observations for regulating the Price of Timber taken from the Proportion of its different Dimensions; with Estimates of the Value of Oak Timber, and several other Materials relating to Naval Stores.
III. Rules for building the Hull of any Sort of Ships. To which is added, the Scantling or Measuring of Ship-Timbers, and some Directions about Moulding them.
IV. A New Method for finding the Tunnage of any Ship.
V. Rules for Proportioning the Rigging. To which is Annexed, An Explication of the Pricipal Terms used in this Art.
The Whole Illustrated with many Schemes proper to each Part, most of them from Copper Plates.
Thomas Page, William & Fisher Mount, London, 1726 (2nd). 4to, 17,5×11 cm, (8), 164 pp, ill., 13 fold. plates (some col.).
Adams record the publishers as: T. Page & F. Mount. Identical to the first edition of 1711 except for the dedication which have been deleted.
References: MaB*; &tmm.; NMM; RCA Bibl; Adams.

1729

Britain's Glory: or, Shipbuilding Unvail'd, being a general Director, for building and completing the said Machines.
A. Bettesworth & S. Fitzer & E. Midwinter, London, 1729 (2nd). 34,5 cm, xxvi, 134 pp, ill & 286 pp.

Two parts in one volume, part two printed 1717. Reissue of first edition from 1717, except for title page and frontispice.
References: &ph.; NMM; NUC.

1740

Britain's Glory, or Shipbuilding Unvail'd being a general Director for building and completing the said Machines.
W. Mount and Thos. Page, London, 1740 (3rd). ?? pp, ? plates.

First edition 1717, other editions 1726, and 1729. Part II dated 1717 and page numbered as first edition.
References: &tmm.; RUSI/RCA Bibl.; Adams.

1740

The Ship-Builders Assistant: or, some Essays Towards Compleating the Art of Marine Architecture: viz.
I. A General Introduction, wherein is consider'd the Solid of Least Resistance, so far as relates to the Formation of a Ship's Body, &c.
II. Observations for Regulating the Price of Timber, taken from the Proportion of its different Dimensions; with Estimates of the Value of Oak Timber, and several other Materials relating to Naval Stores.
III. Rules for Building the Hull of any sort of Ships. To which is added, the Scantling or Measuring of Ship-Timbers, and some Directions about Moulding them.
IV. A New Method for finding the Tunnage of any Ship.
V. Rules for Proportioning the Rigging.
To which is Annexed, an Explication of the Principal Terms used in this Art.
The whole Illustrated with many Schemes proper to each Part, most of them from Copper Plates. By William Sutherland, Shipwright and Mariner.
Printed for William Mount and Thomas Page, London, 1740. 8vo, (6), 164 pp, 13 fold. plates.

First edition 1711.
References: Ten Pound Island Cat. 105:179.

1755

The Ship Builder's Assistant; or, Marine Architecture. Containing
I. The method of Extracting the Square and Cube Roots, Geometry and Mensuration: Wherein all the Rules necessary for measuring Plank, Timber, and finding the Tunnage of Ships, are laid down in a very plain and conspicuous Manner; and illustrated by proper Examples.
II. Observations on the Nature and Value of Timber; with a New Method of procuring it in the necessary Forms for Ship-Building.
III. The method of Drawing the Plans of Ships, and moulding their Timbers; together with all the practical Rules necessary to be observed in Building the Hulls of all Sorts of Ships. To which is added, the Scantling or Mensuration of Ships Timbers.
IV. Directions for making the Masts and Yards of a just Proportion to the Ship, and also to one another, both with regard to Length and Thickness. With Tables of the Weights and Sizes of Anchors and Cables, according to the New Establishment.
V. The Boatswains Art: Shewing the Method of finding exactly the Length and Thickness of every Rope; Also Cable and Cordage Tables, shewing by Inspection the Weight of any Rope, whose Length and Thickness are given. With some Directions for Cutting out Sails.
The Whole Illustrated with a great Variety of Figures and Draughts, Engraven on Copper-Plates.
Printed for W. & J. Mount, T. Page & Son, London, 1755 (3rd). 4to, 17,5×10.5 cm, viii, 150 pp, 8 fold. plates.

An explanation of the principle terms used in this treatise on pp 140-150. First edition 1711.
References: MaB*; PEM*; Francis Edwards 786; RCA Bibl.; NUC; Adams.

1766

The Ship-Builder's Assistant; or, Marine Architecture. Containing
I. The Method of Extracting the Square and Cube Roots, Geometry and Mensuration: …
II. Observations on the Nature and Value of Timber; …
III. The Method of drawing the Plans of Ships, and moulding their Timbers …
IV. Directions for making the Masts and Yards of a just Proportion to the Ship, …
V. The Boatswains Art: … With some Directions for Cutting out the Sails. The Whole illustrated with Figures and Draughts, Engraven on Copper-Plates. By William Sutherland, shipwright and mariner.
J. Mount & T. Page, London, 1766 (4th rev). 4to, 16×10,5 cm, viii, 156 pp, 3 fold. plates.!

All eight plates present in the 1755 edition have been deleted and all references to them in the text have been replaced. Instead three folding plates, of a longboat, a merchant ship, and a 64-gun ship have been introduced. In addition to other minor changes from the 1755 edition most of the chapter Of Beauty has been replaced with instructions on how to lay down a 64-gun ship.
Pp 146-156: An explanation on the principal terms used in this treatise. First edition 1711.
References: KÖS*; NSM*; PEM*; &ph.; NUC; RCA Bibl; Adams.

1784

The Ship-Builder's Assistant; or, Marine Architecture. Containing,
I. Decimals, the Extraction of the Square and Cube Roots, also, Geometry and Mensuration: With Rules for finding the Content of Plank and Timber, also, the Tunnage of Ships; illustrated by proper Examples.
II. Observations on the Nature and Value of Timber, and how to procure it in necessary Forms for Ship-Building.
III. The Method of drawing Plans of Ships, and moulding their Timbers; with the practical Rules to be observed in building the Hulls of different Ships: To which is added, the Scantling or Dimensions of Ships Timbers.
IV. Directions for making Masts and Yards in just Proportion to the Ship, and to each other. Also Tables of the Weights and Sizes of Anchors and Cables, according to the New Establishment.
V. The Boatswains Art: Shewing the Method of finding the Length and Thickness of every Rope. Also Cable and Cordage Tables, shewing by Inspection the weight of any Rope. With Directions for Cutting Out Sails.
The Whole revised, corrected, and illustrated with many Copper-Plates.
Mount and Page, London, 1784 (5th). -4to, 18×12 cm, iv, 156 pp, 11 fold. plates.

Caravan and Francis Edwards records 10 plates. First edition 1711. The IX chapter Of Beauty which was deleted in the 1766 edition has been included again. Most of the text on laying down a 64-gun ship has been deleted as has the chapter on Measuring of Ships. Pp 148-156: An explanation of the principle Terms, used in this Treatise.
References: PEM*; RCA Bibl; Adams; Caravan 240; Francis Edwards 839:1055.

1794

The Ship Builder's Assistant, or Marine Architecture: (Revised and Improved) Containing
I. The Method of extracting the Square and Cube Roots, Geometry and Mensuration; …
II. Observations on the Nature and Value of Timber; with a new method of procuring it in the necessary Forms for Ship Building.
III. The Method of Drawing the Plans of Ships, and moulding their Timbers; …
IV. Directions for making the Masts and Yards of a just Proportions to the Ship, …
V. The Boatswains Art: … With some directions for cutting out Sails.
The Whole illustrated with a great Variety of Figures and Draughts, engraven on Copper Plates.
Mount & Davidson, London, 1794 (6th rev). 8vo, 17,5×12 cm, viii, 152 pp, 10 fold. plates.

With the exception of preliminaries a reprint of 1784 edition. The 1794 edition in the Peabody Essex Museum is not identical to 1784 edition in the same museum. First edition 1711. Pp 143-152 is a dictionary.
References: Private Collection* [text only]; NSM*; SMG*; PEM*; RCA 11 plates; Francis Edwards 732:1135 has 12 plates; NUC records only 8 plates; SSHM; Adams.

1840

The Shipbuilder's Assistant, or Marine Architecture (Revised and Improved) ….
C. Wilson, London, 1840. 4to, diagrams.

First edition 1711. Reprint of the 1784 edition. Still retaining the rigging tables from the first edition and which were taken from Miller's The Complete Modellist first published in 1660.
References: Scott 3426/RCA Bibl; Caravan 156:273;

References:

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