#shipbuilder

On March 8th 1824, John Elder, the Scottish marine engineer and shipbuilder, was born.

John Elder was a marine engineer and shipbuilder, who developed practical compounding marine engines and conceived the modern integrated shipbuilding yard, basically without his work the shipbuilding yards of the Clyde would not be the same. Elder gave the world major contributions to engineering and shipbuilding:

The practical development of compounding in marine engines. This made long-distance steam shipping both possible and economic, and also improved the economics of shorter-haul steam navigation. It allowed the extension of steam power to cargo liners and tramp ships, and greatly accelerated the substitution of steam for sail in the world’s shipping. To this should be added his patent for triple and quadruple expansion marine engines, foreshadowing later 19th century developments.

He initiated the conception of the modern heavy engineering workshop, with overhead gantry cranes developed, as seen in the still-existing Fairfield Engine Works in Govan.

The conception of the modern integrated shipbuilding yard. With only minor alterations the plan of the present Govan Shipyard survives largely as John Elder conceived it. It was the foremost yard on the Clyde until the great liners were built at John Brown’s, and has outlasted most, including the builder of the “Queens”. As one of BAe Systems’ yards, it is still a highly effective production unit, notable for building the largest elements of the Queen Elizabeth Class aircraft carriers.

At its peak production in 1868-69, the final eighteen months of Elder’s life, the Fairfield Yard employed 4,000 people and produced 18 engine sets of 6100 aggregate horsepower and 14 ships of 27,000 aggregate tonnage. Elder had created one of the greatest enterprises of its kind in the world.

Elder was also a model employer of his 4,000 workforce, with a real concern for the well-being of his men and their families. At his funeral, as reported by the Rev. Norman MacLeod “a very army of workmen, dressed like gentlemen, followed his body - column after column. Respectful crowds lined the streets, as if gazing on the burial of a prince; and every one of us .. felt that we had left a friend behind us.”

His statue in Elder Park, Govan, erected by public subscription in 1888, carries the inscription: “By his many inventions, particularly in connection with the compound engine, he effected a revolution in engineering second only to that accomplished by James Watt, and in great measure, originated the developments in steam propulsion which have created modern commerce” and: “His unwearied efforts to promote the welfare of the working classes, his integrity of character, firmness of purpose, and kindness of heart, claim, equally with his genius, enduring remembrance”.

If you have ever been in The Lord of the Isles Wetherspoon bar in Renfrew, you may have notice some prints and memorabilia of Elder in the pub. Elder Park, Govan is also named in his honour, you will also see the statue there.

His statue in Elder Park, Govan, erected by public subscription in 1888, carries the inscription: “By his many inventions, particularly in connection with the compound engine, he effected a revolution in engineering second only to that accomplished by James Watt, and in great measure, originated the developments in steam propulsion which have created modern commerce” and: “His unwearied efforts to promote the welfare of the working classes, his integrity of character, firmness of purpose, and kindness of heart, claim, equally with his genius, enduring remembrance”.

Today, 151 years ago in 1873, a very special human being was born in Comber, Northern Ireland. He was kind, intelligent, diligent and a true hero until the bitter end, sacrificing his life for the safety of others. He was an extraordinary shipbuilder, loving husband and father with a promising future ahead of him. His short but meaningful life ended when he was just 39 years old, but today we will remember and celebrate this beautiful man and think of all the wonderful things he has done. The world would be a better place if there were more men like him.

Happy birthday to the one and only:

Thomas Andrews

You are still loved and will never be forgotten.

(Not so)Happy 5th TROS anniversary!!!!!

(12/20/19-12/20/24)

TOP 5 ways LF could’ve easily saved Ep IX(aka we will forever be fucked by this movie)!!!!!

1-HUX is the BIG BAD(we don’t need Palpatine, we don’t want Palpatine)! Rian set this up at the end of TLJ. A completely unhinged, vengeful Domhnall Gleason would’ve been so great! Armitage double-crosses Kylo Ren on Mustafar by shooting him in the back. He declares himself Chancellor of Coruscant!

(cont')Kylo Ren dies and is greeted by his Uncle Luke in the World Between Worlds(see you around kid). Luke gives him a choice to stay or go back home to Leia. Ben Solo is resurrected by the loyal servants of his grandfather.

2-Keep the shipbuilder(Rey’s grandmother). The ship in Rey’s TFA vision belonged to her granny. No Ochi of Bestoon, no sith dagger, and Rey is not a Palpatine…she is still Rey Nobody!!! Just as Rey finds her grandmother…the Knights of Ren show up and take that away from her. Rey in turn kills them all. This sets Rey on the dark path!

3-Give Finn his dang epic Stormtrooper Rebellion! I think the best part of DOTF was how Finn’s story played out. He could become a Jedi or not I’m good either way. More Finn=More Rose!

4-Dark Rey is REAL! The climax of the movie would be Dark Rey vs Good Boi Ben on Mortis or Exegol(both are cool)!!

The other day, I found this piece in old newspapers that Lew’s grandmother was sitting in the box of the governor of New York Alfred E. Smith with Mrs Franklin D. Roosevelt in a Democratic convention compaigning for the election of governor of New York. I thought this was strange. I knew that Lew’s grandfather was briefly the leader of Tammany Hall, but very briefly, since he was tasked with the mission of cleaning up the corrupt Tammany Hall and failed miserably.

Alfred E. Smith was probably one of the most competent governor of New York in history, and he stayed in office for nearly the entire 1920s. His political legacy included eight-hour day for women and children, minimum wages, to grant state pensions to widows with children so they don’t have to be sent to orphanage if the mother can’t find a job to support the family. (Alfred Smith himself was a child of a widow and he was dropped out of school at age 14 to work at a fish market)

It turns out that Lew’s grandfather was a long-time friend with Alfred E. Smith. They were allies since 1918. When Lewis Nixon died in 1940, Alfred E. Smith was his pallbearer.

Franklin D. Roosevelt was a protege of  Alfred E. Smith. He started compaigning for Smith since 1918 NY governor election, and worked for Smith’s every elections since then. However they turned against each other in fighting for the nomination of 1932 presidential election. Lewis Nixon the shipbuilder backed Alfred E. Smith everytime, and even supported him to run againt FDR in the 1936 presidential election.

1918, FDR first spoke for Alfred E. Smith (in the same news, Lew’s grandmother accepted the chairmanship of the Alfred E. Smith's Women's Campaign Committee of Greater New York. In the state of New York, women had the right to vote since 1918). In this election, Alfred E. Smith beat the incumbent governor Charles S. Whitman.

Actually, the incumbent governor Charles S. Whitman was the one who gave Doris away at her wedding with Stanhope in 1917.

In 1919, Lew’s grandfather was appointed by Alfred Smith as the superintendent of public works.

Shown below are a collection of newspaper clippings of Lewis Nixon throwing dinner parties for Alfred Smith:

By the way, in 1926 seven-yr old Lew participated in a model yacht competition. Grandpa browbeat him to name his boat “Mayor Walker”. That’s Jimmy Walker, another protege of Alfred E. Smith.

In 1928, Lewis Nixon, Franklin D. Roosevelt and Jimmy Walker were all invited to the wedding of Alfred Smith’s daughter Katherine.

Therefore, I believe lil Lew did indeed know FDR, because FDR was not only a close colleague of his grandfather’s besty, but also a immediate neighbor, for the Roosevelts lived at the opposite door to the Nixons on East 65th St. 

FDR lived here and worked from here. This townhouse served as the compaign headquarter of Alfred E. Smith because FDR can’t walk to the actual headquarter on madison street.

Lew’s grandmother was still socializing with Eleanor Roosevelt in 1930 at least. 

However, the Nixons sided with Alfred E. Smith when he and FDR fought for the Democratic nomination for the 1932 presidential election. FDR won.

Lew’s grandfather was still promoting Alfred Smith in the 1936 election, but Smith didn’t run this time.

Smith vehemently critisized FDR’s new deal. However, he was one of the first American politicians who publicly warned against the evil of Hitler and Nazis in early 1933 (mind you, in 1933, Hitler was still a fasionable strong man in public view)

Smith came to Roosevelt’s defense as the president sought to amend the country’s neutrality laws (i.e. to sell arms to Britain and France after they declared war on Germany).

Alfred Smith said Roosevelt was “is so obviously right, so obviously on the side of common sense”.

7149 Woodrow Wilson Drive, Hollywood, Los Angeles, California,

Iconic “Boathouse” by architect Harry Gesner. 

Perched within the Hollywood Hills with incredible views of the Hollywood Sign and beyond, this landmark property is one of 8 homes designed by Gesner and built by Norwegian shipbuilders in 1959.