Forman Cheesman was an American ship-builder and naval architect. During his career, he worked in partnership with Charles Brownne.
Background
Forman Cheesman was born on December 11, 1763 in New York City, New York, United States. He was the son of Thomas and Elizabeth (Forman) Cheesman. His father, one of the first ship-builders in New York, may have been engaged in this occupation even prior to the Revolutionary War for he is recorded as the owner of seventy-five feet of shore front in 1772 between the present Pike and Rutgers Streets.
Career
Cheesman’s shipyards were variously located. Part of the time he was established on the site of his father’s old yards. At another time (during his partnership with Charles Brownne, builder of the Clermont) he was farther uptown at Clinton and Cherry Strees. At that period of American history naval constructors did not make contracts to build vessels but were employed by the Government, and were “detached from all private pursuits by a liberal compensation at the rate of $2, 000 per annum. " Under such an agreement Cheesman received the contract for the famous 44-gun frigate President, which was, however, built and launched in the yards of Christian Bergh. It is impossible today exactly to apportion the credit due each of the two men in the construction of this model of naval architecture.
Prior to the launching of the President in 1800 Cheesman had already built the Brigansa and the Draper, each of 300 tons, and the Ontario of 500 tons. Later, during his partnership with Brownne, some of the finest vessels of the day came from his yards, such as the Silenus, the Triton, and the Illinois. In the day of Cheesman’s father, New York had been an unsuccessful competitor with Philadelphia in the shipbuilding industry. But during the younger Cheesman’s life New York came to be recognized for the first time as the equal, at least, of her sister city in that particular industry.
Achievements
Connections
Cheesman was married at St. Peter’s Church in Philadelphia on February 16, 1786, to Ann Cummings.