Making waves

The Royal Navy's management of invention and innovation in steam shipping, 1815–1832 1

Bibliographic Data

ID14800596
AuthorsChristine Macleod (University of Bristol), Jeremy C Stein (University of Birmingham), Jeremy Stein, Jennifer Tann (University of Birmingham), James Andrew (University of Birmingham)
Year2000
Volume16
Issue4
Pages307-333
Publication date2000-01-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessNo
TypeARTICLE
VenueHistory and Technology (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0734-1512 • E-ISSN: 1477-2620
PublisherInforma UK Limited (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1080/07341510008581973
OpenAlexW1966385065
LanguageEN
Citations received3
References cited19

This paper explores the sources of invention and innovation in steam shipping, the distribution of funding and risk between the state and the private sector, and the Royal Navy's management of innovation, during the experimental period of steam power's adoption at sea. It identifies two intersecting channels through which steam‐related innovations reached the Royal Navy. First, “packages” of innovations were embedded in the marine engines that were commissioned by the Navy from private engine‐making firms. Secondly, the Navy was spontaneously offered a gamut of ideas and inventions, which varied enormously both in potential importance and in degree of development. Although the mechanisms for dealing with these two channels were different, the end result was much the same ‐ in minimizing both the expense and the risk borne by the public sector. It was principally the private sector that was funding scientific and technological development in this sphere. Recognizing its own lack of expertise and consequent hazard, the Navy Board was developing a systematic yet flexible method of assessing steam‐related inventions ‐ which appears to have served it well

Business · Economic growth · Economics · Hazard · Industrial organization · Management · Navy · Political science · Private sector · Engineering · Historical Economic and Social Studies · Historical Studies and Socio-cultural Analysis · Law · Maritime and Coastal Archaeology

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