Smith and Dimon Shipyard

40.7202°N 73.9739°W / 40.7202; -73.9739

Smith & Dimon

Smith & Dimon Shipyard, 1833 by James Pringle
Formerly	Blossom, Smith and Dimon Smith, Dimon and Comstock
Industry	Shipyard
Headquarters	Manhattan, New York , United States
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

The Liberator

• Liberator, 1826. (Later named Hudson)
• Mary Howland, 500 ton, noted for its size.^[2]
• Roscoe, Packet boat^[2]
• Independence, 1834 Packet boat^[2]
• Rainbow, 1845. Said to be the first extreme clipper.^[7]
• Sea Witch, 1846, a model for American fast clippers.^[7]
• Oregon, 1848
• Memnon, 1848
• Arago, 1855
• Fulton, 1855