Hichborn
PHILIP, an American naval officer, born in Charlestown, Mass., in 1839. He studied in the Boston public schools and for a time worked in the Boston Navy Yard, afterward becoming master shipwright of the Mare Island Navy Yard in 1862. In 1868 he entered the navy with the rank of lieutenant and served as assistant naval constructor till 1875, when he became full constructor.
In 1879 he was sent to Europe to report on foreign dock yards. His researches on that subject resulted in a text book which became standard. He served on many important naval boards, in 1893 was made chief constructor of the navy, and had much to do with the creation of the American modern navy. He was retired in 1901 with the rank of rearadmiral. His published writings include "European Dockyards," "Standard Boats," and "Sheathed and Unsheathed Ships." He invented the Franklin life buoy and the Hichborn balanced turrets.