Smith and Dimon Shipyard explained

40.7202°N -73.9739°W

Smith & Dimon
Former Names:	Blossom, Smith and Dimon Smith, Dimon and Comstock
Industry:	Shipyard
Founders:	-->
Hq Location City:	Manhattan, New York
Hq Location Country:	United States
Areas Served:	-->
Key People:	John W. Griffiths, naval architect
Products:	Clipper ships, steamships
Services:	Ship construction and repair
Owners:	Stephen Smith and John Dimon

Smith and Dimon Shipyard or just Smith & Dimon was a renowned shipyard on the east side of Manhattan during the 1840s.

History

The shipyard was located along the East River between 4th and 5th Street.^[1] It was founded by partners Stephen Smith (1794–1875) and John Dimon (1795–1879). Dimon was in charge of the more profitable ship repair business and described the partnership saying, "Smith builds the ships, I make the money."^[2] John W. Griffiths was a famed naval architect who designed revolutionary, fast clipper ships for Smith & Dimon.^[3] The shipyard became famous for its work in the 1840s under the name Smith & Dimon. It was formerly Blossom, Smith and Dimon in the 1820s and then Smith, Dimon and Comstock in the 1830s.^[4]

In addition to clipper ships, the shipyard also built steamships, including the 1848 steamship Oregon.^[5]

James Pringle painted the shipyard in 1833. The painting is on display at the Fenimore Art Museum.^[6]

Ships built at Smith & Dimon

• Liberator, 1826. (Later named Hudson)
• Mary Howland, 500 ton, noted for its size.
• Roscoe, Packet boat
• Independence, 1834 Packet boat
• Rainbow, 1845. Said to be the first extreme clipper.
• Sea Witch, 1846, a model for American fast clippers.
• Oregon, 1848
• Memnon, 1848
• Arago, 1855
• Fulton, 1855

External links

• "The Smith and Dimon Shipyard on the East River, New York," by James Pringle, 1833 at the Library of Congress.

Notes and References

1. Web site: City of New York Extending Northward to Fiftieth St. . Matthew . Dripps . 1852 . David Rumsey Map Collection . 2015-02-16.
2. Book: Ships and Shipping of Old New York . Bank of the Manhattan Company . 1915 . 46 . 2015-02-16.
3. Web site: Biography of Donald McKay (September 4, 1810 – September 20, 1880) . www.ppreservationist.com . 2015-02-16 .
4. Book: McKay, Richard Cornelius . South Street, a maritime history of New York . Haskell House . New York . 1934 . 76-160128 . 174 . 2015-02-16.
5. Web site: Wines . Richard . 2007 . History of the Jamesport Manor, owned by the Dimon family . 2015-02-16.
6. Web site: The Smith and Dimon Shipyard on the East River, New York . James . Pringle . . 2015-02-16.