XXXlll 



amply worth its cost for the Government to pay for the construction of an 

 index which should give reference to every human name mentioned in every 

 book, from the invention of printing down to a recent period. 



George Rennie, C.E., was born in the parish of Christchurch, Surrey, 

 on the 3rd of December, 1791, and died on the 30th of March, 1866, at 

 his house in AYilton Crescent, London. 



He was the eldest son of the great engineer John Rennie, and from his 

 early years was destined for his father's profession. His school education 

 was commenced under Dr. Greenlaw, of Isleworth, and continued at St. 

 Paul's School under the mastership of Dr. Roberts. He was then sent to 

 the University of Edinburgh to pursue his academical studies, and during 

 two years of his stay enjoyed the great advantage of living in the house of 

 Mr. Playfair, the accomplished Professor of Natural Philosophy, and author 

 of the celebrated 'Illustrations of the Huttonian Theory of the Earth.' 

 On his return to London in 1811 he entered on the practical study of en- 

 gineering, and was soon able to assist his father in all the departments of 

 his profession. 



In 1818, on the recommendation of James Watt and Sir Joseph Banks, he 

 was appointed to the office, then become vacant, of Inspector of Machinery 

 and Clerk of the Irons (i. e. dies) at the Royal Mint ; and during the 

 eight years that he held the appointment he made himself intimately ac- 

 quainted with the construction and operation of the machinery employed in 

 coining. The knowledge thus acquired stood him in good stead when he 

 was called on, in conjunction with Messrs.' Bolton and Watt, to furnish 

 machinery for the Mints of Calcutta and Bomba}', and, at a later time, for 

 those of Mexico, Peru, and Lisbon, and when, in the reign of Louis Phi- 

 lippe, he designed similar but more extensive machinery for the Paris JMint. 



On the death of his father he entered into partnership with his younger 

 brother, now Sir John Rennie, and went through a long and active profes- 

 sional career, during which the brothers were engaged in designing and 

 executing many engineering works of great magnitude and importance, at 

 home and abroad. Among these may be mentioned various national har- 

 bours and docks and their subsidiary machinery ; extensive drainage works ; 

 railway surveys and constructions, and as specially worthy of note, the first 

 surveys of the present line of the Liverpool and Manchester railway, boldly 

 and successfully carried by the Messrs. Rennie's advice over the Chat Moss, 

 and the Namur and Liege, and Mons and Menage lines, planned and exe- 

 cuted by them in Belgium; also bridges in various parts. London Bridge 

 was erected after a design made by George Rennie, which had been approved 

 by his father ; but in consequence of his then holding a government appoint- 

 ment his brother was appointed engineer to carry the work into execution. 

 The Bridge over the Dee at Chester, with an arch of 200 feet span, is a 

 monument of Mr. George Rennie's skill in this species of construction. The 

 original design of this great stone arch was by Mr. Harrison, a well-known 



VOL. XVI. d 



