Port Mahon Dockyard

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Port Mahon Dockyard
Port Mahon, Menorca, Spain
Port Mahon c. 1795, by John Thomas Serres
Site information
OperatorRoyal Navy
Controlled byThe Navy Board (1708-1802)
Site history
In use1708-1802
FateNow in use as a commercial port

Port Mahon Dockyard

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
.

History

Naval storehouse and careening wharf on Illa Pinto.

The Port Mahon Dockyard was established at Port Mahon, one of the world's deepest natural harbours, in 1708, following orders issued by 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

Map of the Harbour of Mahon in 1803

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

Post holders included:[4][5][6]

  1. 1742-1744, Commodore Edward Falkingham, (also resident commissioner of the navy for Gibraltar)
  2. 1744-1747, Captain Thomas Trefusis, (ditto)
  3. 1747-1756, Captain John Towry, (ditto)
  4. 1756-1763, Captain Charles Colby, (ditto)
  5. 1798, Captain Issac Coffin
  6. 1814-1815, Captain Sir Jahleel Brenton (acting) [7]

Naval Officer, Port Mahon

Post holders included:[8]

  1. 1727 Jun-Sep, Daniel Furzer
  2. 1727-1728, John Cook
  3. 1728-1731, Robert Hayes
  4. 1731-1734, Robert Gother
  5. 1734-1742, Thomas Sims
  6. 1755-1756, Milbourne Marsh

Master Shipwright, Port Mahon

Post holders included:[9]

  1. 1711-1728, Cornelius Purnell
  2. 1742-1760, John Varlo

Master Attendant, Port Mahon

Post holders included:[10]

  1. 1712-1720, Thomas Teddiman
  2. 1742-1744, Michael Pinfold
  3. 1744-1746, William Cumby
  4. 1746-1755, Mathew Moriarty

Clerk of the Cheque, Port Mahon

Post holders included:[11]

  1. 1716-1718, George Atkins
  2. 1718-1719, John Laton
  3. 1719-1723, John Reynolds
  4. 1738-1739, Christopher Robinson
  5. 1739-1742, Francis Gregson
  6. 1742-1748, Tyringham Stephens

Storekeeper, Port Mahon

Post holders included:[12]

  1. 1716 Jan-Sep, George Atkins
  2. 1718-1719, John Laton
  3. 1719-1723, John Reynolds
  4. 1738-1739, Christopher Robinson
  5. 1739-1746, Francis Gregson
  6. 1746-1753, Thomas Foxworthy
  7. 1763-1765, Milbourne Marsh
  8. 1765 May-Nov, Milburn Warren
  9. 1780, Christopher Hill Harris

Ships built at the dockyard

The

brig sloop
HMS Port Mahon was also constructed here.

  1. HMS Minorca (1779)
  2. HMS Port Mahon (1798)

Citations

  1. ^ 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.
  2. ISBN 9781108013383
    .
  3. ISBN 9780470998878
    .
  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. 4.
  5. ^ 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.
  6. ISBN 9781400874637
    .
  7. ^ Admiralty, Great Britain (1814). "Civil Service". The Navy List. London, England: H.M. Stationery Office. p. 118.
  8. ^ Harrison, Simon (2010–2018). "Naval Officer at Port Mahon". threedecks.org. S. Harrison. Retrieved 4 January 2019.
  9. ^ Harrison, Simon (2010–2018). "Master Shipwright at Port Mahon". threedecks.org. S. Harrison. Retrieved 4 January 2019.
  10. ^ Harrison, Simon (2010–2018). "Master Attendant at Port Mahon". threedecks.org. S, Harrison. Retrieved 4 January 2019.
  11. ^ Harrison, Simon (2010–2018). "Clerk of the Cheque at Port Mahon". threedecks.org. S. Harrison. Retrieved 4 January 2019.
  12. ^ Harrison, Simon (2010–2018). "Storekeeper at Port Mahon". threedecks.org. S, Harrison. Retrieved 4 January 2019.

Sources

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