William Starling Burgess (1878–1947) USA

Burgess was one of the great, 20th century geniuses of American design, with an extraordinary range of fields, as a inventor, poet, aviation pioneer, naval architect, automotive engineer, and America’s Cup yacht designer. Born into a Boston family of wealth and privilege on Christmas Day, 1878, the son of yacht designer Edward Burgess and Caroline …

Olin James Stephens II (1908 – 2008) USA

Stephens was born in New York, but spent his summers with his brother Roderick (Rod) Stephens, Jr, learning to sail on the New England coast. He also attended the Massachusetts Institute of Technology for one term. Entered the marine industry at an early age, Olin apprenticing in yacht design under Phillip Rhodes. With his father’s …

John Gale Alden (1884-1962) USA

Raised in Troy New York, with family Summer holidays in Sakonnet, Rhode Island. John Alden began his quest for the sea, having once sailed the family yacht, a 21′ knockabout sloop, all the way from Troy to Sakonnet alone 300 plus or minus miles. His family later in 1900 moved to Dorchester, MA, due to …

Nathanael Greene Herreshoff (1848-1938) USA

Nathanael Greene Herreshoff (named after General Nathanael Greene) American naval architect-mechanical engineer. “Captain Nat,” as he was known, revolutionized yacht design, and produced a succession of undefeated America’s Cup defenders between 1893–1920. Born: March 18, 1848, Bristol, Rhode Island * Died: June 2, 1938, Bristol, Rhode Island (aged 90) * Spouse(s): Clara Anna DeWolf, Ann …

Lewis Francis Herreshoff (1890-1972) USA

Mr. Herreshoff was born in Bristol, Rhode Island and grew up in the famous Herreshoff boatyard there headed by his father, Nathanial, who biography, “Captain Nat,” he later authored. As the youngest of four sons, Francis Herreshoff was designated for a career running the family estate. But after serving in the US Naval Reserve in …