Captain John Schank (1740-1823)
Image information
Captain John Schank (1740-1823)
A head and shoulders portrait painted between 1795 and 1805, since it shows the sitter in the 1795-1812 captains' full-dress uniform (over three years) and was engraved as an oval in the 'European Magazine', 1 July 1805: see PAD3348. Schank was an officer of practical mechanical bent who started life in the merchant service and entered the navy as a seaman in 1758. He became a lieutenant during the American war in 1776, the year he was put in charge of constructing a flotilla on Lake Champlain, which defeated a rebel squadron there. He rose to captain in 1783 and is best remembered for developing vessels fitted with 'sliding keels' (what we would now call a drop keels) for operating in shallow water but also being good sailors. The first was built in Boston in 1774 and later the Admiralty ordered several to be built experimentally. The Museum has a model of the 'Lady Nelson' of 1799 (SLR0601) which was successfully used as a survey vessel. Schank served as a transport agent on several expeditions in the first part of the French wars of 1793-1815 and became a full admiral by seniority in 1821.
- Image reference: BHC3014
- National Maritime Museum, Greenwich, London
Discover more
More by this artist
Search for similar images
Product images of Captain John Schank (1740-1823)
Our prints
We use a 240gsm fine art paper and premium branded inks to create the perfect reproduction.
Our expertise and use of high-quality materials means that our print colours are independently verified to last between 100 and 200 years.
Read more about our fine art prints.
Manufactured in the UK
All products are printed in the UK, using the latest digital presses and a giclée printmaking process.
We only use premium branded inks, and colours are independently verified to last between 100 and 200 years.
Delivery & returns
We print everything to order so delivery times may vary but all unframed prints are despatched within 2-4 days via courier or recorded mail.
Due to the coronovirus pandemic and Brexit situation, current shipping times may be longer, particularly for destinations outside the UK.
Delivery to the UK is £5 for an unframed print of any size.
We will happily replace your order if everything isn’t 100% perfect.
