Our History:

During the twenty years from 1795 to 1815, the newborn United States came under attack by three different foreign powers: the Barbary States, France and England. The U.S. response to these attacks owed much of its ultimate success to the genius of a Philadelphia Quaker and naval architect, named Joshua Humphrey, born in Haverford Township. Joshua, grandson of Daniel Humphrey, who emigrated from Wales in 1682 and settled in Haverford, was apprenticed to Philadelphia ship carpenter (Penrose) and because of his talent was placed in charge of the shipyard upon his master’s death.