1821.] Biographical Sketch of John Rennie, Esq. 403 



apply the steam-engine to a variety of purposes unconnected 

 with the raising of coals and water (its original object), and 

 selected Mr. Rennie as a fit person to superintend the perform- 

 ance of the Albion Mills, which was then just completed. His 

 salary, though fully equal to his wants, was at first but small, 

 and this afforded an additional stimulus to exertion ; so that at 

 the completion of the Albion Mills he was engaged to superin- 

 tend the erection of some extensive machinery at Messrs. Whit- 

 bread's brewhouse, and an opening was thus presented for him 

 to commence business on his own account. 



About this time, Mr. Smeaton, the celebrated engineer, died, 

 and left a chasm in that department of science ; and a more 

 favourable combination of circumstances for Mr. Rennie's esta- 

 blishment could not have presented itself. A new power for 

 moving machines had just then been invented, and Mr. Rennie 

 was protected by, and connected with, the inventor and patentee. 

 From the year 1794 to the day of his death, Mr. Rennie was at 

 the head of the list of civil engineers, and became connected 

 with every undertaking of magnitude. Among his first essays 

 may be enumerated Crinan Canal, in Scotland, and the Lancaster 

 Canal, the former remarkable for the numerous practical difficul- 

 ties which occurred throughout the whole of the execution ; the 

 latter, for the aqueduct over the river Lime, one of the largest of 

 its kind in Europe. To enter into a detailed account of his 

 numerous works would be endless : they are before the public, 

 who are capable of appreciating their merits ; suffice it to say, 

 that he executed with success, the Kennet and Avon, Buchan, 

 and Aberdeen Canals, the Harbours of Frasersburgh, Queen's 

 Ferry, Berwick, Howth, Holyhead, Dunleary, &c. ; the London, 

 East India, Hull, Leith, Liverpool, and Dublin Docks ; the 

 Breakwater, Plymouth ; the Royal Dockyards of Sheerness, 

 Pembroke; the Bridges of Kelso, Musselburgh, Newton Stewart, 

 Waterloo, and Southwark, besides an infinity of others. He 

 was among the first who perfected the Diving Bell, and rendered 

 it entirely subservient to the purposes of building under water. 



He was Fellow of the Royal Societies of London and Edin- 

 burgh, the Antiquarian Society, the Geological Society, the 

 Royal Irish Academy, and the Royai Society of Munich, besides 

 belonging to various* other minor institutions for the promotion 

 of scientific knowledge. In the execution of the public works 

 which he superintended, there were spent more than thirty mil- 

 lions sterling. 



The list that we have now furnished forms but a small portion 

 of the works which have emanated from the designs of this 

 distinguished engineer ; indeed his industry is almost without 

 parallel ; and on going to France for a short time in 1816, he is 

 said to have stated, that it was the first relaxation he had taken 

 for nearly 30 years. His habits of business were very early, and 

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