John Naish (shipbuilder)

John Naish (died 1726) was an 18th century shipbuilder to the Royal Navy mainly based at Portsmouth Dockyard. He first appears in Royal Navy records in February 1705 as Assistant Master Shipwright. Typically this would have followed at least seven years at sea training as a ships carpenter and a period on shore, and most at this stage are of age at least 30.[1][2]

In August 1709 he was appointed Master Shipwright of Harwich and in December 1711 was moved to Sheerness. He worked briefly in Woolwich where in 1714 he redesigned the huge HMS Royal William, before settling in the prestigious role as Master of Portsmouth Dockyard in July 1715 in place of Richard Stacey.[3]

In 1721 Sir Jacob Ackworth sent him plans for the rebuilding of HMS Victory but these were not executed and the project was instead addressed by his successor Joseph Allin.[4]

He died suddenly in December 1726 aged around 50. His will was concluded in March 1727 and is now held at the National Archive in Kew.[5]