what is a master artificer????

[greenvalley]

Hi,

I found John Easson (1715-1790), master artificer, who was commissioned by the Board of Ordinance in London and sent to serve in Annapolis Royal in 1737.

So what did he do?

Greenvalley

[Sandierose]

Hi

An Artificer was a military mechanic who carried out repairs.

Sandie

[greenvalley]

thank you Sandie

[stanmapstone]

Hi

An Artificer was a military mechanic who carried out repairs.

Sandie

He was attached to the ordnance, artillery, and engineer service, to be employed in the construction of military materials as well as repairs.

Stan

[Mum44]

Engine Room Artificers in the Royal Navy today repair and maintain engines - they don't have to build them, not now.

[stanmapstone]

The reference was to a  a soldier mechanic not a a mechanic in the Royal Navy. As far as I am aware there were no artificers in the Royal Navy in the 18th Century as the ships did not have engines only sails


Stan

[greenvalley]

Thanks guys,

I take it that if he was a Master artificer, he was heading the outfit??

Greenvalley

[stanmapstone]

Just to add that at that time an Artificer or Artificier made fire-works or worked in the artillery laboratory, preparing fuses, bombs, grenades etc. The name was also applied to military smiths, collar makers etc. and to a particular corps.
From "A New and Enlarged Military Dictionary", 1805
I would assume that a Master Artificer would be a senior position similar to a Master Gunner etc.
Stan

[Little Nell]

I've been looking in a book on naval records at TNA and while it does not give a definition of artificer per se, I get the impression that an artificer was a master craftsman.  (In fact I have an 18th century relative, from a shipwright family, who is mentioned in the Artificer's Records of Deptford Naval Dockyard.)  In the 18th century, artificers (civilian officers appointed by the Navy Board) could be warranted as inferior officers at sea.  This would have included such craftsmen as sailmakers, caulkers, ropemakers and coopers.  This practice died out in the 19th century.

Description books of Artificers 1748-1830 are held in class ADM106.

But since he was appointed by the Board of Ordnance, as Stan says, his line of work involved a bit more destruction than construction.   

Nell