Laurent Barbé

Laurent Barbé was a French shipbuilder born about 1696. He came to the attention of Frederik Danneskiold-Samsøe, when in 1739 the newly formed Danish Naval Construction Commission was seeking a replacement chief designer and shipbuilder. Barbé enjoyed Danneskiold's patronage and protection for some six years but fell out of favour when Danneskiold retired from the Construction Commission. by which time construction of the new ship had already started. Despite concerns over the quality of its keel, Elephanten proved to be an excellent ship and the technical drawings set the standard for future work. Barbé continued to live in Copenhagen until his death, in straitened circumstances, on 21 March 1764.

Barbé's ships The Royal Danish Navy's database attributes the following ships designs to Barbé. Note that many of them were built after Barbé left his position in the Danish shipyards, indeed one after his death: Christiansøe 1741 frigate Cronprindsen 1756 ship of the line Dannemark 1757 ship of the line Docqven 1747 frigate Dronning Juliana Maria 1752 ship of the line Elephanten 1741 ship of the line Elephanten 1773 ship of the line Jaegersborg 1745 boat/galley Nellebladet 1746 ship of the line Neptunus 1750 ship of the line Samsøe (22) 1746 frigate Sælland (Sjælland) 1750 ship of the line Tre Croner (Tre Kroner) 1742 ship of the line

Recorded elsewhere Ærøe 1744 brigantine of 10 guns and a crew of 53