Born in Newcastle-Upon-Tyne, England, in 1847 according to the obituary in the Duluth newspaper: "Captain Kidd", as he was known by, worked in his hometown as a shipbuilder until he came to America in 1875. In this country he first became connected with the John Roach & Sons Shipbuilding Company, of Chester, PA, remaining with them for a number of years until he assumed the ownship of a shipbuilding plant at Marcus Hook, PA. About 1888 he moved to Duluth, MN, and associated himself with Captain Alex McDougall, as superintendent of the American Steel Barge works, then located in Duluth, MN, and afterwards transferred to Superior, WI. He left this company about 1899 and opened offices in Duluth as a consulting shipbuilder and engineer, building up a fine reputation and a large practice through the lakes district.
Captain Kidd was an inventor of wide fame, and many of his inventions are now of great service in the marine service. Kidd's Patent Hawse Pipe, which is now in use, was a big improvement over the forms formerly used. They are practically flush with the skin of a vessel and the head of the anchor shuts up the hole and prevents water from rushing through the hawse pipe, which could not be said of the old style pipe. More than one half of all damages by collision have been caused by anchors hanging out-board. The Kidd Hawse Pipe stores the anchor close.
Kidd's Wire Line Fair Lead and Manila Chock are used on over 100 lake vessels. The latest of Captain Kidd's inventions was the patent hatch cover. These hatch covers are practically watertight without the use of any hatch cloths, and are in use on the THOMAS F. COLE and other large freighters.
Mr. Kidd was among the half dozen well known naval architects who have laid down the plans of the modern lake ships.
For many years Captain Kidd's activities were closely associated with the American Steel Barge company, of Superior, where he served as superintendent in the manufacture of the whale back type of boats, invented by Captain Alex McDougall. In Duluth he later served as a vessel surveyor and superinteded the repairing of ships.
Captain Kidd was an inventor of wide fame, and many of his inventions are now of great service in the marine service. Kidd's Patent Hawse Pipe, which is now in use, was a big improvement over the forms formerly used. They are practically flush with the skin of a vessel and the head of the anchor shuts up the hole and prevents water from rushing through the hawse pipe, which could not be said of the old style pipe. More than one half of all damages by collision have been caused by anchors hanging out-board. The Kidd Hawse Pipe stores the anchor close.
Kidd's Wire Line Fair Lead and Manila Chock are used on over 100 lake vessels. The latest of Captain Kidd's inventions was the patent hatch cover. These hatch covers are practically watertight without the use of any hatch cloths, and are in use on the THOMAS F. COLE and other large freighters.
Mr. Kidd was among the half dozen well known naval architects who have laid down the plans of the modern lake ships.
For many years Captain Kidd's activities were closely associated with the American Steel Barge company, of Superior, where he served as superintendent in the manufacture of the whale back type of boats, invented by Captain Alex McDougall. In Duluth he later served as a vessel surveyor and superinteded the repairing of ships.
Born in Newcastle-Upon-Tyne, England, in 1847 according to the obituary in the Duluth newspaper: "Captain Kidd", as he was known by, worked in his hometown as a shipbuilder until he came to America in 1875. In this country he first became connected with the John Roach & Sons Shipbuilding Company, of Chester, PA, remaining with them for a number of years until he assumed the ownship of a shipbuilding plant at Marcus Hook, PA. About 1888 he moved to Duluth, MN, and associated himself with Captain Alex McDougall, as superintendent of the American Steel Barge works, then located in Duluth, MN, and afterwards transferred to Superior, WI. He left this company about 1899 and opened offices in Duluth as a consulting shipbuilder and engineer, building up a fine reputation and a large practice through the lakes district.
Captain Kidd was an inventor of wide fame, and many of his inventions are now of great service in the marine service. Kidd's Patent Hawse Pipe, which is now in use, was a big improvement over the forms formerly used. They are practically flush with the skin of a vessel and the head of the anchor shuts up the hole and prevents water from rushing through the hawse pipe, which could not be said of the old style pipe. More than one half of all damages by collision have been caused by anchors hanging out-board. The Kidd Hawse Pipe stores the anchor close.
Kidd's Wire Line Fair Lead and Manila Chock are used on over 100 lake vessels. The latest of Captain Kidd's inventions was the patent hatch cover. These hatch covers are practically watertight without the use of any hatch cloths, and are in use on the THOMAS F. COLE and other large freighters.
Mr. Kidd was among the half dozen well known naval architects who have laid down the plans of the modern lake ships.
For many years Captain Kidd's activities were closely associated with the American Steel Barge company, of Superior, where he served as superintendent in the manufacture of the whale back type of boats, invented by Captain Alex McDougall. In Duluth he later served as a vessel surveyor and superinteded the repairing of ships.
Captain Kidd was an inventor of wide fame, and many of his inventions are now of great service in the marine service. Kidd's Patent Hawse Pipe, which is now in use, was a big improvement over the forms formerly used. They are practically flush with the skin of a vessel and the head of the anchor shuts up the hole and prevents water from rushing through the hawse pipe, which could not be said of the old style pipe. More than one half of all damages by collision have been caused by anchors hanging out-board. The Kidd Hawse Pipe stores the anchor close.
Kidd's Wire Line Fair Lead and Manila Chock are used on over 100 lake vessels. The latest of Captain Kidd's inventions was the patent hatch cover. These hatch covers are practically watertight without the use of any hatch cloths, and are in use on the THOMAS F. COLE and other large freighters.
Mr. Kidd was among the half dozen well known naval architects who have laid down the plans of the modern lake ships.
For many years Captain Kidd's activities were closely associated with the American Steel Barge company, of Superior, where he served as superintendent in the manufacture of the whale back type of boats, invented by Captain Alex McDougall. In Duluth he later served as a vessel surveyor and superinteded the repairing of ships.
Gravesite Details
Grave shows birth year of 1848 but obit states 1847
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
Explore more
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
