114 SYMINGTON. 



fluence of his noble example exerted on others, and for the generous 

 patronage he bestowed on many poorer fellow-labourers in the same 

 great field. Chambers' Edinburgh Journal, No. 392, August 3, 1839. 

 Stuart's Anecdotes of the Steam-Engine. London, 1829. 



WILLIAM SYMINGTON.* 



Born in 1763. Died March 22, 1831. 



William Symington, claimant conjointly with Patrick Miller to 

 the honour of originating the present system of steam navigation, 

 was a native of Leadhills, in the county of Lanark, Scotland. He 

 was originally destined for the church, but an early predilection for 

 mechanical philosophy led him to abandon his theological studies, 

 and pursue with ardour those connected with his favourite science. 

 His genius soon attracted the notice, and secured the patronage of 

 Gilbert Meason, a gentleman at that time connected with the 

 Wanlock Head lead mines. Before completing his twenty-first 

 year, Mr. Symington made several improvements on the steam- 

 engine, for which he took out patents, and continued for some time 

 to construct and introduce engines on his principle, in various parts 

 of England and Scotland. 



In the year 1784, the idea first occurred to him that steam might 

 be advantageously employed for the propulsion of carriages ; and 

 in 1786 he succeeded in producing a working model of a steam- 

 carriage, which he submitted to the inspection of the professors and 

 other scientific gentlemen in Edinburgh. Although this steam- 

 carriage afforded proofs of considerable capability, it was never 

 proceeded further with, on account of the state of the roads in 

 Scotland at that period, and the difficulty of procuring fuel and 

 water. 



In the meanwhile Patrick Miller, a gentleman of property residing 

 on his estate at Dalswinton, Dumfriesshire, had for some time been 

 engaged in making various experiments for the improvement of 

 naval architecture, and had constructed a double or twin-boat, with 

 paddle-wheels, to be moved by manual labour. At this point Miller 

 was informed by Mr. James Taylor, a tutor in his family, of Syming- 

 ton's model steam-carriage, and they both called at Mr. Meason's 

 house in Edinburgh to see it. During the course of conversation 

 with Symington, the practicability of advantageously employing 

 steam for the purposes of navigation was talked about, and it was 

 ultimately arranged that Symington should endeavour to construct 

 * See also Patrick Miller. 



