402 Biographical Sketch of John Retinie, Esq. [Dec. 



o-uished himself by the invention of the thrashing machine, and 

 effected considerable improvements in the construction of water- 

 wheels, the latter of which he brought to great perfection. 



It will readily be imagined that no better school than Mr. M.'s 

 workshop could have been found for ripening into perfection 

 those seeds of science with which nature had endowed 

 the young mechanic ; indeed it is more than probable that 

 to the opportunities thus obtained we may attribute his 

 future advancement in life. He would watch with delight the 

 different operations that were carrying on, and he soon acquired 

 confidence enough to mingle in the labours of the workmen. 

 His leisure time was spent in the construction of such models as 

 came under his observation, and at 10 years of age he had con- 

 trived to make models of a steam-engine, a windmill, and a pile 

 engine, upon Valoue's principle. At 12 years of age he dis- 

 agreed with his schoolmaster, whom he thought incompetent to 

 teach him any longer, and immediately left the school. At a 

 loss how to employ himself, he expressed a wish to be placed 

 under his friend Mr. Meikle, with whom he continued about 

 two years, when finding himself deficient in some of the more 

 essential parts of general education, he proposed going to Mr. 

 Gibson, an able teacher then resident at Dunbar. Here he dis- 

 tinguished himself in a remarkable manner by the assiduity and 

 talent he displayed in the acquirement of mathematical know- 

 ledge ; and on Mr. Gibson being appointed Master of the Public 

 Academy at Perth, he earnestly recommended John to succeed 

 him in the management of the school. He soon, however, 

 returned home, and remained with Mr. Meikle for some time, 

 occasionally employing himself in the drawing and construction 

 of machinery. About this period he undertook the repairs of a 

 corn mill situate in his native village, and on its completion went 

 to Edinburgh. He was then about 17 years of age, full of 

 ardour, and anxious to improve himself, without, however, neg- 

 lecting the honourable employment of those talents he had 

 already so well cultivated. Accordingly we find him in the 

 summer of 1778 busily employed in the erection of a flour mill in 

 the county of Angus, and this was followed in the succeeding 

 year by the completion of another at Kirkaldy, and a third 

 for Mr. Atchison, of Drurnmore, the intermediate time being 

 spent at the college at Edinburgh. 



The good fortune, or rather the indefatigable industry, of 

 young Rennie, soon surmounted all the difficulties that opposed 

 the completion of his collegiate studies, and he was shortly 

 noticed by Professor Robison as a young man of extraordinary 

 genius and application, and by him recommended to Messrs. 

 Boulton and Watt as a fit person to be employed in the construc- 

 tion of mill-work. 



About the same period, Messrs. Boulton and Watt began to 



