William Francis Gibbs was an American naval architect born on February 22, 1886. He is best known for designing the Liberty ship, a type of cargo ship built during World War II to support the Allied war effort. Gibbs' innovative designs significantly improved shipbuilding efficiency and helped meet the urgent demand for wartime transport. Gibbs founded the Gibbs & Cox firm, which became one of the leading naval architecture and marine engineering companies in the United States. His contributions to ship design and construction had a lasting impact on the maritime industry, influencing both military and commercial shipping practices. Gibbs passed away on July 6, 1967.