Rennie John

Rennie, John (1761-1821), great engineer, was born in East Lothian, and obtained his education at schools in Prestonkirk and Dunbar. The bent of his mind turned towards mathematics and natural philosophy, and, as he was proficient in them, he was appointed temporary assistant-master at Dunbar when only seventeen. Between 1780 and 1783 he studied at Edinburgh University, and in 1784 was entrusted with the design of a bridge near that city. He became assistant to a great engineering firm, and superintended the building of the Albion Mills in London. His other early works were the Hull Docks, Kennel and Avon Canal, Rochdale Canal, an 1 Royal Canal, Ireland. His greatest works, however, are his bridges, which include some of the finest over the Thames, such as Waterloo (1817), Southwark (1819), and London Bridges. Besides these, we owe to him the London Docks, East India Docks, Sheerness Docks, Holyhead Harbour, and the great Plymouth Breakwater, which was not completed till 1848. He became F.R.S. and contributed to the scientific journals.