Alexander Stephen and Sons

Alexander Stephen and Sons Limited, often referred to simply as Alex Stephens or Stephens, was a Scottish shipbuilding company on the River Clyde in Linthouse, Govan, Glasgow.

History

The company was founded by Alexander Stephen, who began 1750 in Burghead on the Moray Firth, to build ships.

Founded in 1793, William Stephen, one of his descendants, a shipbuilding company in Footdee in Aberdeen.

In 1813, another member of the family named William opened a shipbuilding company in Arbroath.

Alexander Stephen, a member of the third generation of the family, the company introduced in 1828 together in Aberdeen and Arbroath and moved production to the Panmure yard in 1842 in Dundee, having already in 1829 the shipyard was closed in Aberdeen. 1850 is a part of the company was transferred to the Kelvinhaugh shipyard near Glasgow, which is known as Yorkhill Quay today. The shipyard in Arbroath was then finally closed in 1857. 1870, the operation was moved again, this time on the 1868 acquired land in Linthouse near Glasgow.

In 1883 a tragic accident when the steamer Daphne capsized immediately after the launch occurred. 124 shipyard workers lost their lives in this disaster.

In 1968 Stephens was as recommended in the Geddes Report, together with Yarrow Shipbuilders in Scotstoun, Charles Connell & Company Scotstoun and John Brown & Company of Clydebank to the Upper Clyde Shipbuilders and after that company collapsed, closed in 1971.