William Doughty (naval architect)

William Doughty began his career as protégé of noted naval constructor Joshua Humphreys. In a letter to Secretary Henry Knox dated 22 October 1794, Humphreys recommended young Doughty for a position as his clerk at the Philadelphia Navy Yard. Humphreys stated he believed Doughty to be a "devoted and distinguished worker." Doughty took the oath of allegiance on 23 October 1794 as a clerk at the Philadelphia Naval Shipyard; his pay was set at $500.00 per annum.[2]

On April 12, 1804, William Doughty was appointed as head carpenter, Washington Navy Yard, by Secretary of the Navy Robert Smith [3] Doughty was popular among shipyard mechanics and laborers and was supportive of their 1835 strike. Naval constructors like William Doughty combined the skills of a naval architect and engineer, at the navy yard his position was somewhat unique, for the naval constructor job provided Doughty with a wide range of connections; most importantly, it meant that he reported to the Board of Navy Commissioners and not to the shipyard commandants like Thomas Tingey and Isaac Hull. The BNC placed such a high value on Doughty's nautical expertise that they scheduled a regular Monday morning meeting to consult with him each week. This relationship with the Navy Commissioners allowed Doughty considerable influence.[4] The regard he enjoyed with the shipyard workforce also led to considerable tension as during the strike of 1835, when he advised the ship carpenters to hold out for higher wages.[5]

His career as a shipbuilder, though, was long and very successful; the 1850 census for the District of Columbia records his real estate as valued at $35,000. He was also one of the highest-paid civilians at the Washington Navy Yard. The navy yard payroll for April 1829 shows William Doughty's annual salary as $1,900, nearly the same as a naval captain.[6] William Doughty, while working at Washington Navy Yard designed many naval vessels, including the Independence and USS Brandywine. He also designed the President, United States 74s, Peacock class, Erie class, Java and Guerrier, North Carolina 74s class, Brandywine 44s Class, brigs, revenue cutters, and Baltimore Clipper model.

During the War of 1812 British Chesapeake Campaign, William Doughty served as a militia captain and was incorrectly named in the military records as John Doughty. In 1813, Doughty formed the quasi-militia Navy Yard volunteers and drilled them regularly after Navy Yard working hours. This military unit became known as the "Navy Yard Rifles", becoming a volunteer rifle company that served under the command of Major Robert Brent of the 2nd Regiment of the District of Columbia Militia, who was the first mayor of Washington, D.C., in the defense of the capital city which resulted in the disastrous defeat in August 1814 at the Battle of Bladensburg.[7]