History of Kensington, (Philadelphia County) Pennsylvania United States of America

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Biographies:

William Burrows, naval officer, was born in Kensington, Pa., Oct. 6, 1785, son of Lieutenant-Colonel Burrows, a marine naval officer. He received a midshipman's warrant in 1799, was assigned to the Portsmouth, and in 1803 he was transferred to the Constitution, as acting lieutenant, serving in that capacity throughout the Tripolitan war. In 1808, in command of a gunboat, he was engaged on the Delaware river in enforcing the embargo law, and in 1809 was appointed 1st lieutenant of the Hornet. Finding himself outranked by his former subordinates, he resigned his commission, but it was not accepted, Secretary Hamilton granting him a furlough of a year, during which he visited India, and at its close was assigned to the command of the sloop Enterprise. On Sept. 1, 1813, while off the coast of Portland, Me., he fell in with the British brig Boxer, and captured her after an engagement of forty-five minutes. Burrows was mortally wounded, but lived long enough to receive the surrender of the Boxer, whose commanding officer, Captain Blythe, had fallen in the early moments of the action. Blythe and Burrows were buried in adjoining graves in Portland, and Congress recognized his gallantry by awarding a gold medal to his nearest male relative. His death occurred Sept. 5, 1813.

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

William Cramp, ship-builder, was born in Kensington, then a suburb of Philadelphia, Pa., in September, 1807, his ancestors having been among the earliest settlers on the Delaware river, in Pennsylvania. In his youth he received a thorough English education and studied naval architecture with Samuel Grice, then at the head of that profession in America. In 1830 he established a shipyard of his own in Kensington, and a few years later removed his plant to a more favorable situation a short distance up the river. As his sons grew up they became his partners and in 1860 the establishment became known as "William Cramp & Sons." The concern rapidly expanded its business to include the building of engines, and the use of iron as structural material of vessels. Their first naval vessel of any considerable importance was the broadside iron-clad New Ironsides, completed for the United States government in 1862. During the civil war William Cramp & Sons built other war vessels, both iron-clads and gunboats. together with the first-class cruiser Chattanooga. Between 1870 and 1873 they built the four iron steamships for the American line known as the Pennsylvania, Ohio, Indiana and Illinois, to ply between Philadelphia and Liverpool William Cramp continued at the head of the industry which he had founded until shortly before his death, which occurred at Atlantic City, N.J., July 6, 1879.

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