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Basic Biographic Details

John Rennie
Engineer
Exact Date
Exact Date
10/04/1821
John Rennie was born on 7 June 1761, the youngest of the nine children of James Rennie, farmer and brewery owner at Phantassie, East Lothian and his wife Jean (née Rennie). He attended the parish school and showed an early interest in and aptitude for machinery. When he was twelve he was employed by the well-known mill-wright and inventor of machinery Andrew Meikle and gained a basic knowledge of practical mechanics. He attended Dunbar High School for two years where he shone for his ability in mathematics and natural philosophy. Rennie set up as a mill-wright on his own in 1779. He earned sufficient income from his business to attend Edinburgh University from 1780-1783. He made friends with two eminent teachers there, the chemist Joseph Black and the professor of natural philosophy, John Robison from whom he gained a broad scientific knowledge and some grasp of engineering concepts.

In the latter year Rennie made a study tour of England, his final destination being Birmingham. He had a letter of introduction from John Robison to James Watt. Watt, who needed a millwright to improve the mechanical side of his steam engine, was impressed by Rennie. In 1784 he went to work for Boulton & Watt to design and execute their machinery at the Albion Flour Mills at Southwark. These mills aroused much interest at the time and assisted in establishing Rennie’s reputation as a mechanical engineer. However Rennie had much wider interests and talents and besides mechanical engineering and he was involved with designing and building harbours and docks, draining fens and building bridges and canals. In 1790 he was the appointed surveyor to the Kennet and Avon Canal and from this point his time was largely spent on civil engineering work.

Rennie’s bridges, both small and large, are fine examples both of engineering and of architecture. Colvin states he was one of the ‘great British bridge-builders of the 19th century’. His first major bridge was that over the Tweed at Kelso. He designed three major bridges across the Thames: Waterloo Bridge, Southwark Bridge and London Bridge all constructed by Edward Banks (1770-1835). Waterloo Bridge, which was privately promoted, was the finest one and the most prestigious bridge project so far in Britain. In 1809 Rennie and William Jessop were asked to report on the plans for a new bridge which had been prepared by the engineer George Dodd with the assistance of J L Bond. Rennie found fault with these plans and was asked to provide a scheme himself. His plans were adopted and he was employed at a salary of £1000 per year. He anticipated that the removal of Old London Bridge would result in an increased scour higher up the river, he ensured that the foundations of the bridge were strengthened. The design of the bridge was based on the earlier Kelso bridge. The bridge was opened in 1817 and was highly acclaimed at the time.

Southwark Bridge was also a private undertaking. It consisted of three cast-iron arches, the central one being the widest cast-iron span ever built in Britain. It was replaced in 1920-21. His last major bridge was that to replace the medieval London Bridge. The Corporation had already requested a report from its surveyor, George Dance, who with a firm of engineers had suggested that the existing eight arches should be removed and replaced with four larger arches. A report by Rennie submitted in 1821 showed that the bridge should be completely replaces rather than the old one altered. An Act of Parliament was passed to take this forward but Rennie died in 1821. Although a competition was held for designing the bridge, in fact these were laid aside and Rennie’s bridge design was adopted. It was built under the direction of his son, Sir John Rennie, and completed in 1831. It was removed in 1968 and re-erected in a reduced form in Arizona.

Rennie had married Martha Ann Mackintosh in 1790. They had nine children. He died on 4 October 1821 after a short illness and was buried in St Paul’s Cathedral. His sons George and John carried on his work. His daughter Anna, married Charles Robert Cockerell. Rennie was a tall handsome man with both charm and determination. He was said to have a short temper in private but he made and kept good friends. He has been criticised for the massiveness and the cost of his structures but he built bridges to last. There are numerous portraits of Rennie in the Scottish National Portrait Gallery and in the National Portrait Gallery as well as elsewhere.


'Biography authored by the Dictionary of Scottish Architects Compilation Team.'

Addresses

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Employees or Pupils

The following individuals were employed or trained by this person (click on an item to view details):

Employees or Pupils2 classic

NameName LinkDate FromDate ToPositionNotes
John Chisholme407965c. 1800Assistant

Buildings and Designs

This person was involved with the following buildings or structures from the date specified (click on an item to view details):

Buildings and Designs2 classic

Building NameDate StartedTown, District or VillageIslandCity or CountyCountryNotes
Bridge over the Water of Leith, Stevenhouse MillIn year 1784MidlothianScotland
Peterhead HarbourIn year 1793PeterheadAberdeenshireScotlandImprovements proposed after storm in 1793
Bridge over the River TweedIn year 1800KelsoRoxburghshtreScotland
Leith Docks, Old East DockIn year 1800LeithEdinburghScotlandEast Dock
Whiteadder BridgeIn year 1800RoxburghshireScotland
Leith Docks, West Old Dockc. 1800LeithEdinburghScotland
Union Street and King Street and Union Bridgec. 1801AberdeenScotlandWas consulted on the desgn of this bridge.
HarbourIn year 1802FraserburghAberdeenshireScotlandInitial porposal for large harbour
Bridge over the River EskIn year 1806MusselburghMidlothianScotland
New Bridge over River EskIn year 1806MusselburghMidlothianScotland
Bell Rock LighthouseIn year 1807AngusScotland
Newton Stewart Bridge over the River CreeIn year 1812Newton StewartWigtownshireScotland
Union Suspension BridgeIn year 1819PaxtonBerwickshireScotlandGave advice on bridge
Bridge of EarnIn year 1819Bridge of EarnPerthshireScotland
Cramond Bridge over the River AlmondIn year 1819MidlothianScotland

References

Bibliographic References

The following books contain references to this person:

Bib ref classic

AuthorTitleDatePublisherPartNotes
Colvin, HowardA Biographical Dictionary of British Architects 1600-18402008London: YUP. 4th edition
New DNBNew Dictionary of National BiographyArticle by Andrew Saint.
Cresy, EdwardEncyclopaedia of Civil Engineering1847
APSDThe Dictionary of ArchitectureThe Architectural Publication Society (8v 1852-1892)ed Wyatt Papworth
Institution of Civil EngineersBiographical Dictionary of Civil Engineers2002V.1 and 2
Ruddock, TedArch Bridges 1735-18351979
Smiles, SLives of the Engineers1861volume ii, part vii
Rennie, Sir JpohnThe Autobiography of Sir John Rennie1875
Boucher, C T GJohn Rennie1963Manchester
Gifford, JohnThe Buildings of Scotland: Angus and Dundee2012YaleP721

Periodical References

The following periodicals contain references to this person:

Period ref classic

Periodical NamePublisherDate CircEditionNotes
Scotsman2014/10/04

Archive References

The following archives hold material relating to this person:

Arc ref classic

Archive NameSourceSource Cat NoBuilding IdItem NameNotes
Manuscript CollectionNational Library of Scotland100064MS.2009Letters by Rennie
Archive CollectionInstitution of Civil Engineers201584Rennie Papers