Person    | Male  Born 8/6/1724  Died 28/10/1792

John Smeaton

Categories: Engineering

Civil engineer. Born and died at Austhorpe Lodge, Whitkirk, near Leeds. In 1748 he moved to London initially at Great Turnstile and set up in business first as a scientist and maker of instruments but he soon got involved in engineering projects.

Considered by some the "father of civil engineering". Designed bridges, canals, harbours and lighthouses. His most famous work being the third Eddystone Lighthouse, which became the model for all other lighthouses, and appeared on the tail of the old penny, behind Britannia.

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This section lists the memorials where the subject on this page is commemorated:
John Smeaton

Commemorated ati

Ship Tavern

Founded: AD 1549. Rebuilt: AD 1923 The Ship Tavern This tavern was establ...

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Skempton Building plaques

2018: Eamonn Doyle has written to correct our "east to west", saying that the...

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Short Brothers

Short Brothers

Pioneering aeronautical engineers. Oswald and Eustace formed a partnership in 1897, initially working on balloons. They supplied Charles Rolls, amongst others. In 1908 Horace joined, the company wa...

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1 memorial
Denis Johnson

Denis Johnson

In 1819, made and sold Britain's first bicycle in its hobby-horse form. As a coachmaker Johnson was able to make significant improvements to the two-wheel velocipede, as invented by von Drais. He o...

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1 memorial
Maxim Gun

Maxim Gun

The first portable automatic machine gun. In the 1888 photograph the Prince of Wales (later Edward VII) is firing with Maxim standing behind.

Concept, Armed Forces, Engineering

1 memorial
Nine Elms Motive Power

Nine Elms Motive Power

This depot was responsible for the locomotives working out of Waterloo. Locomotive, carriage and wagon workshops were built in 1839 in Vauxhall at the end of Nine Elms Lane. Rebuilt following an 18...

Group, Engineering, Transport

2 memorials
Joseph Bell

Joseph Bell

Chief engineer of the RMS Titanic. Born in Farlam, Cumbria, he moved to Newcastle where he served his apprenticeship. He was hired by the White Star Line and served on several ships before being ap...

Person, Engineering, Tragedy

1 memorial

Previously viewed

H. Johnson & Co

H. Johnson & Co

Terracotta manufacturers based in Ditchling, Sussex.  Made the Stratford Martyrs memorial.  From Tile Gazetteer - Newham: "Johnson’s, who were active from the 1870s, made terracotta, bricks, tile...

Group, Property

1 memorial