Major William Smyth was born in 1887 in Ireland and was “…considered by many one of the finest boatbuilders in the United States…” In 1925 he became manager of the Dauntless Shipyard in Essex, Connecticut. He reorganized their operations and proceeded to build many quality sailing yachts. During 1939 Smyth came to Mystic Shipyard, and by 1960 was president and general manager of the yard corporation which included John R. Rincicotti and Donald A. Truss. The yard had been founded in 1843 under the name of Maxson, Fish and Co., however by the time Smyth sold out his interest in 1971, Mystic Shipyard was essentially a yacht storage and repair facility.