History of Fort Montgomery, (Orange County) New York United States of America

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John S. Gilbert, inventor, was born in East Haddam, Conn., in 1801. He served an apprenticeship to a ship-joiner in New York and became a successful naval architect. His work brought to his attention the obstacles to the proper docking of ships and after many experiments he invented the balance dry dock, which came into general use. He incorporated the original New York dry dock company of which he was still a director at the time of his death. About 1850 he constructed the Erie Basin dry dock, at that time the largest in the world, and also built docks for the U.S. government at Kittery, Maine, Charleston, S.C., and Mare Island, San Francisco, Cal. He was a naval constructor in Washington, D.C., for several years, and for seven years was engaged in work for the Austrian government at the port of Pola. In 1861 he declined to undertake a similar work in Russia, deeming himself too old to work. He was married to Diantha Slanson of New Canaan, Conn., and their son, Henry W. Gilbert, was at one time U.S. consul at Trieste. John S. Gilbert died at Fort Montgomery, N.Y., Aug. 12, 1891.

From: Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans, Johnson, Rossiter, editor

History of Fort Montgomery, (Orange County) New York

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