| Lewis Francis Herreshoff | |
| Birth Date: | 11 November 1890 |
| Birth Place: | Bristol, Rhode Island |
| Father: | Nathanael Greene Herreshoff |
| Occupation: | Ship Designer |
L. (Lewis) Francis Herreshoff (November 11, 1890 - December 1972), was a boat designer, naval architect, editor, and author of books and magazine articles.
Herreshoff was born on November 11, 1890, in Bristol, Rhode Island, to Clara Anna DeWolf (1853–1905) and Nathanael Greene Herreshoff (1848–1938).
During his early career, Herreshoff worked for the Herreshoff Manufacturing Company, founded by his father and uncle, where he gained valuable experience and knowledge in boat design and construction. The Herreshoff Manufacturing Company was known for producing high-quality yachts and racing sailboats. Later on, Herreshoff also worked for the naval architect Starling Burgess, further honing his skills in the field of naval architecture. In 1926, he went into business for himself in Marblehead, Massachusetts, as a designer of racing and pleasure yachts, canoes, kayaks and other small craft. Herreshoff died December 1972.
In addition to his practical work in boat design, L. Francis Herreshoff also made significant contributions as an editor and author. He wrote numerous books and articles on boat design, sailing, and yacht racing, sharing his expertise and insights with the wider boating community. His writings often incorporated his own design philosophies and ideas.
Herreshoff's designs were characterized by their elegance, practicality, and attention to detail. He had a deep understanding of yacht design principles and a keen eye for aesthetics. Many of his designs are considered classics and are still revered today.
Herreshoff was inducted into the National Sailing Hall of Fame in 2014.
Herreshoff's designs included:
His books include The Common Sense of Yacht Design, The Compleat Cruiser, Capt. Nat Herreshoff: The Wizard of Bristol, The Writings of L. Francis Herreshoff, Sensible Cruising Designs and An L. Francis Herreshoff Reader. The Common Sense of Yacht Design, published in 1947, became a seminal work in yacht design literature and continues to be highly regarded by both designers and enthusiasts.
He published numerous magazine articles, notably the 'How To Build' series in the magazine The Rudder. Herreshoff's success as an author is especially impressive in one sense; his dyslexia had led his father to shunt him into agricultural school.