Marmaduke Stalkartt

Influential naval architect and shipbuilder, of Rotherhithe, London

Marmaduke Stalkartt (1750 - 24 September 1805) was the fourth child of Hugh Stalkartt.

1781 Published 'Naval architecture, or, The rudiments and rules of ship building: exemplified in a series of draughts and plans: with observations sending to the further improvement of that important art'. It was divided into seven books: 'Of Whole-Moulding'; 'Of the Yacht'; 'Of the Sloop'; 'Of the Forty-Four-Gun-Ship'; 'Of the Seventy-Four-Gun-Ship'; 'Of the Cutter, and Ending of the Lines'; and 'Of the Frigate'.

More information about Stalkartt's life and work here.

1787: 'Friday the Committee of Ship Owners, Ships Husbands, Insurers, and others concerned in East India Shipping, and Property sent out in the East-Indiamen, who held a Meeting the Antwerp Tavern a few Days since, had their appointed Interview with Mr. Pitt, at his House in Downing Street, Westminster, with whom they entered into Conference on the Subject of the present alarming Mutinies among the Sailors, by which they represented the very heavy Losses they had sustained. .... [list of 'mutinees'] ..... And it is with great Satisfaction we can inform the Public, that the India Directors have come to a Resolution to send a Vessel immediately to bring them ['mutinees'] home. The Vessel to be covered with Copper, instead of Planking, is building by Mr. Stalkartt, Author of the Work intitled Naval Architedure, and is designed for the Copper Mine Company in Anglesea. She is Cutter built, and resembles in the Form of her Body the beautiful Yacht built by Mr Stalkartt for the Earl of Uxbridge, which, we are told, outstrips every Thing in Speed.— The Cutter measures near 60 Tons. She is to be coppered from the Keel to the lower Part of the Wales, including the Keel, Stem, and Stern-Posts. By a curious Invention the Sheets of Copper will be joined together, so as to make an outside Surface perfectly smooth, which must add to her Velocity. The only Danger to apprehended, that of her touching Ground, will be guarded against in the curious Construction of her Bottom — and this Evil avoided, every Thing must be in her Favour, to Cleanness of Bottom, Velocity, and Duration.'

1788 'The copper vessel building at the yard of the ingenious Mr. Stalkart, is nearly completed and will be launched perhaps next tide. The contrivance is highly ingenious. The whole side of the vessel moulded into place was adapted to the frame at once.- The Sheets are riveted exactly in the manner of a large boiler, and the joints are so close as to be able certainly to resist all possible action of the water. The most experienced seamen now admit the probability of her living in any sea; but whether this species of ship-building can he reduced in expence so as to be made common, remains yet to be tried.'

1788 'The ingenious Mr. Stalkart, Author of the Treatise on Naval Architecture, is building a vessel calculated for swift sailing with copper. She is to have no planking at all, and there is no doubt but the experiment will succeed. The boat is built, and on Saturday se'ennight was brought up to the Tower, when the French Ambassador and the Spanish Envoy went down the River in it. The vessel, like the boat, to swim, in the nautical phrase, by the copper, that is, instead of being sheathed with copper over the planks, she is to have no other covering than sheets of copper only closely rivetted together; the copper is about an eighth of an inch thick.'

1792 'Earl Stanhope's experiments for navigating vessels by the Steam Engine, without masts or sails, have succeeded so much to his satisfaflion on a small scale, that a vessel of 100 tons burthen, on this principle, is now building under his direction, by the ingenious Mr. Stalkart, the author of a valuable Treatise on Naval Architecture. The expence of this vessel is to paid by the Navy Board, in the first instance, on condition that if she do not answer, after a fair trial, she shall be returned to Earl Stanhope, and all the expence incurred made good by him. This is undoubtedly a noble experiment, and highly honourable to his Lordship, whatever may be its success. If it answers, the advantage to the Public, particularly in Inland Navigation, will be immense. If it fails, he will be entitled to the praise of having bestowed much study and a large sum of money on an object of national utility.'

Early 1790s: Stalkartt built an experimental steam powered warship for, and designed by, Charles Stanhope. The vessel, named Kent, was approximately 100 ft long, with a flat bottom and straight, flared sides. Messrs Walker of Rotherhithe supplied the engine, which had two vertical cylinders, one of 3ft 3in bore and 6ft stroke, and the other 2ft bore and 5ft stroke, to drive feathering paddles (as oars, rather than wheels). There were six on each side. It seems that the steam machinery failed, and trials carried out with the paddles worked by hand.

1796 Stalkartt was sent to India in 1796 to establish shipyards to build men-of-war in teak for the Royal Navy.

1833 Advert for sale of furniture and effects of Marmaduke Stalkartt's house at 14 Snargate Street, Dover. 'C. Lamb respectfully informs the public, that in consequence of Mr. Stalkartt going immediately to India, the whole of the above valuable property will be absolutely sold without the least reserve.'. Was this a different Marmaduke Stalkartt, or were reports of his death in 1805 premature?

One source identifies the Stalkartt's Rotherhithe yard as being located in Nelson Dock. The whole of Nelson Dockyard was taken over by Thomas Bilbe in 1850.

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