Port Mahon Dockyard was a Royal Navy Dockyard located at Port Mahon, Menorca, Spain. It was opened in 1708 and in 1802 the port was ceded back to Spain. However a resident commissioner of the Royal Navy was still appointed as late as 1814. The dockyard was administered by the Navy Board and was part of the Mediterranean Fleet.
History
The Port Mahon Dockyard was established at Port Mahon, one of the world's deepest natural harbours, in 1708, following orders issued by the Admiralty to Admiral Sir George Byng the Commander-in-Chief of the Mediterranean Squadron. He was instructed to develop the Port of Mahon as a naval base following the capture of Minorca. The dockyard was located on the north side of the harbour, opposite Port Mahon town. In 1756 control of the dockyard was fought over during the Battle of Minorca (1756). During the 1760s naval storehouses were constructed. The dockyard was the Royal Navy's principal Mediterranean base for much of the eighteenth century; however the territory changed hands more than once in that time, before being finally ceded to Spain in 1802.
The dockyard was administered by the Navy Board and was part of the Mediterranean Station.
Administration of the dockyard and other key officials
The Master Shipwright was the key official at the royal navy dockyards until the introduction of resident commissioners by the Navy Board after which he became deputy to the resident commissioner. In 1832 the post of commissioner was replaced by the post of superintendent.
Resident Commissioner of the Navy, Port Mahon Post holders included: 1742-1744, Commodore Edward Falkingham, (also resident commissioner of the navy for Gibraltar) 1744-1747, Captain Thomas Trefusis, (ditto) 1747-1756, Captain John Towry, (ditto) 1756-1763, Captain Charles Colby, (ditto) 1798, Captain Issac Coffin 1814-1815, Captain Sir Jahleel Brenton (acting)
Naval Officer, Port Mahon Post holders included: 1727 Jun-Sep, Daniel Furzer 1727-1728, John Cook 1728-1731, Robert Hayes 1731-1734, Robert Gother 1734-1742, Thomas Sims 1755-1756, Milbourne Marsh
Master Shipwright, Port Mahon Post holders included: 1711-1728, Cornelius Purnell 1742-1760, John Varlo
Master Attendant, Port Mahon Post holders included:
1712-1720, Thomas Teddiman 1742-1744, Michael Pinfold 1744-1746, William Cumby 1746-1755, Mathew Moriarty
Clerk of the Cheque, Port Mahon Post holders included: 1716-1718, George Atkins 1718-1719, John Laton 1719-1723, John Reynolds 1738-1739, Christopher Robinson 1739-1742, Francis Gregson 1742-1748, Tyringham Stephens
Storekeeper, Port Mahon Post holders included: 1716 Jan-Sep, George Atkins 1718-1719, John Laton 1719-1723, John Reynolds 1738-1739, Christopher Robinson 1739-1746, Francis Gregson 1746-1753, Thomas Foxworthy 1763-1765, Milbourne Marsh 1765 May-Nov, Milburn Warren 1780, Christopher Hill Harris
Ships built at the dockyard The Sloop of war HMS Minorca was built at the dockyard in 1779. In 1798 the 18 gun brig sloop HMS Port Mahon was also constructed here. HMS Minorca (1779) HMS Port Mahon (1798)
Citations
Sources Archives, National (1708–1802). "Royal Naval dockyard staff: Port Mahon Dockyard on Minorca". The National Archives. London, England. Baugh, Daniel A. (2015). "Overseas Bases". British Naval Administration in the Age of Walpole. Princeton, United States: Princeton University Press. . Clowes, Sir William Laird (1897–1903). The royal navy, a history from the earliest times to the present Volume III. London, England: S. Low Marston. Dickinson, H. T. (2008). A Companion to Eighteenth-Century Britain. Hoboken, New Jersey, United States: John Wiley & Sons. . Harrison, Simon, (2010-2018). https://threedecks.org/Port Mahon. Owen, John Hely (2010). War at Sea Under Queen Anne 1702-1708. Cambridge, England: Cambridge University Press. .