For centuries navigation at sea was conducted with care, and attention but a certain degree of providence. Until the coming of steam power, this approach had a certain veracity – ships under sail tended to follow the winds and prevailing weather systems and thus generally stayed out of the other’s way. However, the introduction of steam-power meant that ships could now dictate to the wind and tide. As the number of vessels grew, so too did the need for an international code of navigation. One crucial element of this was navigation lights.
Several have been credited with developing the system. But the person deserving the plaudits is Captain William Davis Evans; a man who should be better known to us here in Waterford. Not just because this system which has prevented countless collisions and possible loss of life has relevance in any port or seafaring community. But because he was ships master on the Dunmore East to Milford Haven run when he posited his lighting system, it was first trialled on the Waterford to Milford run, and his invention was championed by Waterford Chamber of Commerce in a petition to parliament now known to maritime historians as the “Waterford Proposal”[i]
Milford – Waterford route for a time circa 1824. Although Evans was in command of the Vixen it may give a sense of the scale of the vessels.
Maritime Museum Greenwich, via Roger Antell
William Davis Evans was born in 1790 in Pembrokeshire. At 14, he joined the Royal Navy to fight the French. Following the defeat of Napoleon, Evans was released back to dry land like so many of his fellow naval compatriots. He went on to join the postal service and by 1819 was in command of the packet ship Aukland, and would have completed weekly trips to Dunmore East and return with mail, passengers and freight. I have written previously on the Southern Route.
As the packet boats turned to steam, Evans with all his experiences, could see the need for a regulated system of lighting that would allow for a better understanding of a ship’s direction at night or in poor visibility. Needless to say, Evans wasn’t alone in recognising the issue.
Several proposals were put forward to adopting a lighting system; one, in particular, was employed on the Liverpool to Dublin mail packet route. All of these had positives and indeed many had very close similarities, Evan’s system however was eventually seen to trump them. [iv]
Evans started experiments with his light system as early as 1827, while in command of PS Vixen operating between Milford Haven and Dunmore East. His early research involved experiments with stained glass and different liquids to provide colour and sufficient brilliance of light.[v]
From April to November of 1836, a trial was conducted on Evan’s system with the support of the Post Office. The four regular mail steamers on the southern route were involved, (at this stage the packet station had moved upriver to Waterford City – moved in 1835) all fitted with the light systems. The results were recorded very favourably and the Post Office initially decided that all their vessels should employ the system.
There were concerns, however, because the packet route to Dublin employed another system and there were fears about confusion. This was the City of Dublin Steam Packet Company (CODSPC) seen as a leader in the Irish Sea trade. The Post Office, perhaps wisely, decided to leave the Admiralty to adjudicate the matter.
In March 1838 the “Waterford Proposal” was sent to the British Parliament. This petition was signed by Henry Denny on behalf of shipping and business owners of the Waterford Chamber of Commerce. It supported Evan’s system and asked that it be considered a means of preserving shipping and lives at sea. [vii] It had one significant change to the 1836 trial, however. It altered the starboard navigation light from the earlier suggested colour blue, to green. Evans also added a paragraph to his proposal, acknowledging the CODSPC system! [viii]
It would be 1846 before officials of various government bodies acted. The Board of Trade, Admiralty and Corporation of Trinity Lights eventually got around to trialling the various systems then suggested. Conducted in the River Thames on August 20th, Evan’s system was considered best. Not before, however, each of the agencies suggested some tweaks and was included in the Steam Navigation Act of 1846. This was finally adopted in July 1848, but already many shipping companies had the system in place. The Steam Navigation Act of 1851, which repealed the 1846 Act and the 1848 Regulations, gave the Admiralty the power to order sailing vessels as well as steamships to carry lights.
The Merchant Shipping Act of 1854 extended the “port helm” rule to sailing vessels. In March 1856 the Admiralty established a committee. Its purpose; inquire into “The Expediency of Altering the Present System of Lights Established for Steam and Sailing Vessels”. This agreed to the coloured light system to be adopted by sailing vessels. These changes were enacted through the Merchant Shipping Act of 1854 which came into force on 1 October 1858.
Negotiations were later held with the French over a bilateral navigation agreement – Following a French counter-proposal, an agreement was finally reached in early 1862 and included in the Merchant Shipping Amendment Act 1862. The regulations came into force on 1 June 1863. A slew of countries (30) adopted these thereafter.[xi] There have been many developments since, but all go back to Evan’s.
Captain Evans retired from the sea in 1840. Although he never patented his idea, his friends made a case for his recognition. In total, it seems he was awarded about £1,500 by the British government over the years. The Czar of Russia was also impressed and presented Evans with a gold pocket chronometer and £200.
His other great passion was chess and it is known that he organised a chess club in Waterford in his time (Dunmore East perhaps). He is renowned in the chess world for a move called the “Evan’s Gambit”. It’s said that this was developed while playing a game during a mail packet run. He died in impoverished circumstances in Ostend, Belgium on 3 August 1872 aged 82.[xii]
Nothing, that I am aware of, is known of Evans in Waterford, nor of his services to navigation. He may have been a Welshman, but Waterford was a vital part of his working life. The Chamber of Commerce were, as we have read, a crucial support. Evan’s system is not just used by ships- it is also employed by aircraft and now even spacecraft.
Years back, many of my blogs started with reminisces of my father. This story reminds me of one of my childhood fascinations when drifting for salmon at night. I was agog that my dad could tell the direction a ship was approaching us based on the lights. If the white light and red and green were showing it was heading straight for us. If we could see white and green it meant it was going to the right of us. Red, the opposite.
Depending on where we were in the river, this dictated what we needed to do. Stay as we were or haul the nets, or indeed, “haul hard!”. A command that generally meant there was a fish or danger. My father never mentioned Evan’s, most likely he did not know. Just like myself until a chance reading of his name and achievement in a maritime book earlier this year. Drowers, Boats, Boffins and Bowlines
I’m indebted to Olivia Murray for her support with this article.
Heritage Week 2024
Next Month will see the nationwide events coordinated by the Heritage Council for Heritage Week. Lots of fascinating maritime events. One I won’t miss is with Ralph O’ Callaghan and Brian White who will look at the cultural, natural and built heritage of the Suir Blueway on Saturday 17th August. And of course the River Barrow and New Ross features too. There’s at least 21 events in Waterford, and don’t forget our own: Cheekpoint – A Community of the Tides.
[i] Detail in this article is drawn from Owen, J. R. (2013). “Give Me a Light:” The Development and Regulation of Ships’ Navigation Lights up to the Mid-1860s. International Journal of Maritime History. https://doi.org/10.1177/084387141302500109
While I acknowledge that this is a very light piece on the history of the subject (I’m very conscious of several master mariners who subscribe to the blog and who would drive trucks through this summary) for those who want access to a more detailed piece, here’s a fine article by Lieutenant Edward F. Oliver, U. S. Coast Guard, dating from 1955 titled Twenty-Five Hundred Years Of The Rules Of The Road
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A very illuminating article, Andrew, as always
I thought it might appeal to your prediliction for all things bright and beautiful Pete.
Excellent article, Andrew, of a subject so taken for granted.
Your comment, Peter Goulding, was quite ‘punny’! (My mother was a Goulding, too!)
Pete is renowned for his puns Philip, I’d highly recommend his lighthouse page – http://irishlighthouses.blogspot.com/
Good one, Andrew; I never heard of him before.
Always nice to come across such a local connection for the blog Charley
Very interesting article. I enjoy reading historical articles concerning County Waterford, Ireland people and places. My Mother’ s people came from the Waterford area.
Thanks for the feedback Russell