Chapter I: Preface

The following Autobiography was written by Sir John Rennie in 1867, shortly after he had retired from the active duties of his profession. As will be perceived in the sequel, it was composed wholly from memory. Sir John was subsequently unable to revise it as he would have desired, and it has since been found impossible to do so. Nevertheless it is believed that but few substantial errors will be found; while the kindliness with which the autobiographer invariably speaks of every person with whom he came in contact, is a guarantee that there can be nothing to offend the most sensitive person, or which might tend to injure the just claims and reputations of others. It is now presented to the public in its original state, having undergone merely some necessary correction, in the hope that the memoirs of the man who was perhaps unrivalled in his branch of the profession--and which comprise valuable hints as to the neglected art of hydraulics, as well as advice to engineers commencing their career, the result of the experience of a lifetime of no ordinary duration--together with the reminiscences of one who had seen much both of men and things,

“Qui mores hominum multorum vidit et urbes,”

may not be unacceptable either to the profession or the world at large.

LONDON, _September, 1875_.

CONTENTS.

CHAPTER I.

My birth and early education--I enter my Father’s
office--Commencement of Waterloo and Southwark
Bridges--Anecdotes of Mr. Ferguson, of Pitfour--The Stockton
and Darlington Railway, and Surveys between Port Patrick
and Donaghadee--Account of the mode of erecting the arches
of Southwark Bridge--Journey to the Continent and Field of
Waterloo--Account of the building of Waterloo Bridge--It is
opened in State by the Prince Regent, 1817. Page 1

CHAPTER II.

Travels in Switzerland, Italy, Greece, Asia Minor,
Constantinople, and Egypt--Return to England--Death of Mr.
Rennie 36

CHAPTER III.

Eau Brink Cut--Ramsgate Harbour--Sheerness Dockyard--Plymouth
Breakwater--Anecdote of the late Mr. J. Fox--London Bridge and
Approaches--Sir F. Trench’s Plan for Quaying the Thames--Nene
Outfall--Cross Keys Bridge--Norfolk Estuary--Improvement of the
Witham--Ancholme Drainage 157

CHAPTER IV.

Sketch of the Rise and Progress of the Railway System--The
Manchester and Liverpool, London and Birmingham, and other
early Lines 228

CHAPTER V.

Travels in the North of Europe and Spain 252

CHAPTER VI.

Ship Canal from Portsmouth to London--Machinery and
Engine Making--Screw Steam Ships--Hartlepool and Coquet
Harbours--Railways round London--Railway Mania--South-Eastern
Railway--London, Chatham, and Dover Railway 284

CHAPTER VII.

Swedish Railways--Surveys in Holland and Portugal 304

CHAPTER VIII.

Surveys in Portugal and Tunis 343

CHAPTER IX.

Surveys at Odessa and Vienna--Harbour at Ponta
Delgada--Ramsgate--Dagenham 377

CHAPTER X.

Retrospect--London Bridge--Sheerness Dockyard--Plymouth
Breakwater and Victualling Yard--Steam Vessels for the
Navy--Harbours--Railways--Broad and Narrow Gauge--Atmospheric
Railway--Water Supply and Sewage 407

CHAPTER XI.

The Formation of Natural Breakwaters--The Society of Civil
Engineers--The Education of a Civil Engineer--Some Hints on
Practice--Estimating--Conclusion 427

Index 459

AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF SIR JOHN RENNIE.