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William Denny, C.E. By John Henderson, Jun., E.R.S.E. 
William Denny was bom in Dumbarton on 25th May 1847. 
His education was commenced in the Academy of his native town. 
Shortly afterwards he was sent to Jersey, more particularly for the 
sake of his health, and after a residence of four years he returned 
to Scotland, and was placed in the Edinburgh High School, where 
he remained until he was seventeen years of age. 
He had resolved to become a shipbuilder, and on leaving the 
High School in 1864 he entered his father’s ship-yard in Dumbarton 
as an apprentice, and passed through the several departments, where 
he laid the groundwork of his future ability as a naval architect. 
In 1868 Mr Denny became a partner in the firm of William 
Denny & Bros., and shortly after assumed the administrative 
charge of the extensive business conducted by the firm. He con- 
tinued to occupy this position until his death on 17th March 1887. 
He early showed great promise of becoming an eminent naval 
architect, and introduced a more scientific basis in all the practical 
work of shipbuilding. He wrote many papers, and took a pro- 
minent part in all discussions in connection with his profession. 
Mr Denny had great force of character, and a wonderful gift of 
inspiring his staff, and those with whom he came in contact, with 
his own enthusiasm and earnest perseverance in carrying his in- 
vestigations and experiments to a conclusion. 
He was a fluent speaker, and his professional and other papers, 
which he read from time to time, were noted for the finished 
manner in which they were prepared and delivered. 
He took a prominent part in the introduction of steel for shipbuild- 
ing, and did much to bring it into the general use it now obtains. 
He introduced an admirable system of conference between his firm 
and delegates from all trades represented in the works, in order to 
adjust and arrange all questions of wages, rules, &c., and these 
conferences were under his presidency during the last year of his 
life at home. 
Such deep and active interest as he had in everything connected 
with the scientific part of his business would have absorbed all the 
energies of most men, but not so with William Denny. His nature 
was many-sided, and his sympathies were broad and deep. He was 
