William Lithgow

William Todd Lithgow (c. 1854–1908) was a Scottish ship-designer who became sole owner of an extremely successful shipbuilding company. For much of the 20th century its name was Lithgows, as it was developed further by William's sons Sir James Lithgow (1883–1952) and Henry Lithgow (1886–1948), and then by his grandson Sir William Lithgow (born 1934). By 1950 it was the largest private shipbuilding company in the world. Biography William Lithgow started his working life as an apprentice ship's draughtsman in Port Glasgow, on the River Clyde, when the Clyde was the biggest shipbuilding area in Britain. Lithgow's parents both died before he was seventeen. His father had sold cotton yarn and left Lithgow with £1000 to invest in shipbuilding. In 1874 he went into partnership with Joseph Russell (c. 1834 – 1917), an experienced shipbuilder who was the major investor in their firm: Russell & Co. Anderson Rodger (c. 1843 – 1909) was the third partner. The core of their business was building large iron sailing ships intended for long-haul, slow cargo transport. Lithgow was chief draughtsman-designer and his work was crucial to their strategy of standardising hull shapes and components, thus increasing efficiency and profitability.