Charles Henry Cramp (1828-1913)
President & Naval Architect of the Cramp Shipbuilding Co., Philadelphia
He was born in Philadelphia and two years later (1830) his father established what would become a world-famous shipbuilding yard on the Delaware River. He learned his trade directly from his father, which years later prompted a profound conversation between him and Grand Duke Constantine, Head of the Imperial Russian Navy. The duke enquired, "In what school of naval architecture were you educated?" Cramp replied, "Your Imperial Highness, when I was graduated from my father's shipyard as a naval architect there were no schools of naval architecture. I belong to a race that made the schools of naval architecture." In 1859, he became a partner in his father's firm that was later renamed William Cramp & Son, and he succeeded his father as president in 1879. The firm played a key role in building the new American Navy, as well as foreign navies, including building vessels for the Imperial Russian Navy (1879).
During the Civil War, the Cramps built iron-armored vessels over wooden ships that became known as "Ironsides," and they continued to pioneer the use iron and steel warships up into the early twentieth century. Among their more famous ships, they built the successor to the battleship Maine that sank in Havana, and a great many merchant vessels too. Charles Cramp also introduced the "penalty system" that was approved by Secretary of the Navy, William C. Whitney, that deducted a certain sum for every unit of power short of the contract guaranty. To make the contract entirely equitable, Whitney suggested that there should also be a corresponding premium for excess of performance. The Cramp shipyards could build seven ships at one time, and at full tilt they employed 8,000-men (for a weekly payroll of $84,000). He lived at 1736 Spring Garden Street, Philadelphia. In 1850, he married Hannah, daughter of Samuel Coates Cox (1804-1867), and they were the parents of eight children, six of whom (listed) survived to adulthood.
During the Civil War, the Cramps built iron-armored vessels over wooden ships that became known as "Ironsides," and they continued to pioneer the use iron and steel warships up into the early twentieth century. Among their more famous ships, they built the successor to the battleship Maine that sank in Havana, and a great many merchant vessels too. Charles Cramp also introduced the "penalty system" that was approved by Secretary of the Navy, William C. Whitney, that deducted a certain sum for every unit of power short of the contract guaranty. To make the contract entirely equitable, Whitney suggested that there should also be a corresponding premium for excess of performance. The Cramp shipyards could build seven ships at one time, and at full tilt they employed 8,000-men (for a weekly payroll of $84,000). He lived at 1736 Spring Garden Street, Philadelphia. In 1850, he married Hannah, daughter of Samuel Coates Cox (1804-1867), and they were the parents of eight children, six of whom (listed) survived to adulthood.
