Background
The eldest of six children, he was born to William Badger and Anstisa Emerson Badger at what is now Newfields, New Hampshire.
The eldest of six children, he was born to William Badger and Anstisa Emerson Badger at what is now Newfields, New Hampshire.
Trained by master shipbuilder Colonel James K. Hackett at John Langdon"s shipyard on Rising Castle Island (or Langdon"s Island) in Kittery, he helped build the United States Ship Ranger. In 1782, he worked with Hackett to complete the United States Ship America. About 1788, Badger established a shipbuilding business with David Colcord and Stilmon Tarleton on the Squamscott River at Newfields, but returned to work with Hackett from 1794 until 1799 as a master carpenter on the United States Ship Crescent and United States Ship Congress.
In 1797, Badger acquired 3 acres (13 hectares) on Rising Castle Island from his wife"s family.
He built a house and began shipbuilding on what would thereafter be called Badger"s Island. Dissatisfied with the latter shipwright, however, Hull fired both Badgers in November.
A dozen years then passed at the federal shipyard without the completion of a single vessel. Hull rehired William Badger in 1813, and the United States Ship Washington, first ship produced at the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard, launched in 1814.
Meanwhile, upriver at his own shipyard, Badger was constructing approximately two ships a year, including naval vessels, merchant vessels and privateers, while also repairing others
He entered shipping, owning the brig Fanny between 1816-1822, and half-owning at least 17 other vessels, most of which he had built. Between 1801-1850, shipbuilding was the principal industry in the Piscataqua region, where shipbuilders altogether made about 9 vessels per year, each averaging 200 tons. He died in 1830 after a long illness, and was buried on the island which bears his name.
The United States Ship William Badger, a whaling ship acquired by the United States. Navy during the Civil War, was named after him, an honor reserved for his 100th vessel built in 1829.
