George Lawley & Son was a shipbuilding firm operating in Massachusetts from 1866 to 1945. It began in Scituate, then moved to Boston. After founder George Lawley (1823–1915) retired in 1890, his son, grandson and great-grandson upheld the business, which continued until 1945. Of the hundreds of ships built by the Lawleys, highlights include the yachts Puritan and Mayflower, respective winners of the 1885 and 1886 America's Cup.
Brief history
Founder George Lawley (1823–1915) was born to a "family of boatbuilders in Limehouse (London), England." He "began his career as an apprentice to Thomas and William Forrest while in England." In 1852 Lawley "moved his family to Massachusetts." He "found his first job in America with the East Boston ship designer, Donald McKay." Lawley worked for McKay from 1852 until 1866.
Scituate, 1866–1874
In 1866, "Lawley and fellow [McKay] worker William Maybury opened a shipyard in Scituate ... for the construction of pleasure boats." When George's son George Frederick Lawley (1848–1928) "joined the business ... the company name became George Lawley and Son."
South Boston, 1874 – c. 1909
"In 1874 the yachting boom struck, and the firm transferred its yard to a more advantageous location near the city, a fairly large lot next to the Boston Yacht Club station at City Point in South Boston." The city directory of 1875 locates George Lawley & Son at the "rear Horse Car Stables." "Within a few years, the demand for new yachts became so great that the plant was moved to the north side of City Point." From ca.1887 through ca.1892 the city directory locates the firm at East First and O Street, South Boston.
"In 1890 the Lawleys associated with them Mr. Thomas Hibbard, who looked after the construction of the new steel shops. The business was then incorporated. ... Mr. George Lawley, founder of the business, practically retired from active participation in the enterprise. Mr. George F. Lawley was elected president of the corporation." "In 1901 the Lawleys began working for the United States Navy and launched two torpedo boats. In the years to come they would continue the association, especially during the World War I." George's grandson, Frederick D. Lawley (1878–1953), "studied naval architecture at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and subsequently joined the company as manager and designer" around 1902.
By 1908, the firm had built over 800 ships, including "schooners Alcaea, Ingomar, Oonas, Idler, Latona, Endymion; the sloops Jubilee, Weetamoe, Wayward, Katonah, Independence; the steam yachts Alcedo, Aquilo, Satilla, Thetis, Kaleda, Carmina, Calumet, Anona, Visitor, Cigarette, Kehtoh, and Halawa; the three-masted auxiliary schooner Alcyone; the motor launches Zeeland, Elkhorn, Tonopah, Glenda, and Hupa." The firm employed "200 to 400 hands, the majority of whom are highly-skilled mechanics."
Dorchester, c. 1909 – 1946
Around 1908–1910, the firm "was practically crowded out of its City Point yard ... by an overflow of work, and inability to expand, so the plant was moved across Dorchester Bay to the old Putnam Nail Works at Neponset."
"In 1921 the Guinevere was built at the Neponset yard. It was the first yacht ever fitted with Diesel oil engines motoring her electric Westinghouse equipment which propelled the boat, hoisted the sails, lighted, heated and "cooked" the craft, and twirled the big gyroscope which keeps the boat on even keel."
Neponset World War 2 production
"In 1926, George, Frederick and George II (b. 1901) left the company and set up F. D. Lawley in Quincy, Massachusetts." The firm of George Lawley & Son continued on in Neponset until it ceased in 1945–1946.
During World War II, the Neponset George Lawley and Son shipyard was instrumental in helping to design and build over 100 Landing Craft Infantry (Large) ships. The Lawley shipyard was the primary design yard and their drawings were shared by 9 other U.S. shipyards all building LCI(L) for the war effort. Lawley's Neponset shipyard was also asked by the U.S. Navy to pioneer the design and development of Landing Craft Support ships.