Mathew Baker

Mathew Baker ( * 1530, † 1613 ) was a mathematician from Cambridge and royal shipwright under Elizabeth I. He is considered the first master shipbuilder who created exact calculations and plans.

Baker, son of shipbuilding Master James Baker, was awarded the title of the ship master ( eng. Master Shipwright ) in the year 1572. He built, among others, the HMS Vanguard, HMS Merhonour and HMS Revenge ( 1577), who later served Francis Drake as a flagship. His major work, "Fragments of Ancient Shipwrightery " ( 1586) is considered groundbreaking for the shipbuilding industry of the 16th century and 17th century. He also lent his hand to the rebuilding of the English fleet in the fight against the Spanish Armada.

Unlike his predecessors, he was based not only on oral traditions, but worked together with the sailors and Kaperkapitänen Francis Drake, Martin Frobisher and Charles Howard. He decided to build smaller lightly armed ships ( galleons ), but it had a high degree of maneuverability. With newly developed guns and the military prowess of the now Vice- Admiral Sir Francis Drake carried this enabled the English fleet command in 1588 to force the Spanish Armada to retreat into northern territories.