1792

John Smeaton

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.

Comments are provided by Facebook, please ensure you are signed in here to see them

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...

Skempton Building plaques

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

Smeaton at IC

Smeaton

See other memorials in this area

Other Subjects

Holborn Conduit

Built on a tributary of the River Fleet to bring clean water to London. Its precise location is not clear, but one source places it at what is now the junction of Snow Hill, Cock Lane and Smithfiel...

Building, Engineering

1 memorial

Tommy Tucker

Ship's engineer. Known as 'Skipper', he was the second husband of the author Edith Nesbit. Andrew Behan has provided this research: Tommy Tucker was born as Thomas Terry Tucker. His father and pat...

Person, Engineering

1 memorial

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...

Person, Commerce, Engineering

1 memorial

Tilbury Douglas Construction Limited / Interserve

The picture source gives the history of the company, which changed its name in 2007.

Group, Engineering

1 memorial

first public supply of gas in the world

Royal Charter granted in 1812 to Gas Light and Coke Company for street lighting in London. Londonist published a lovely piece about the lamp lights of Victorian London still burning across the city.

Event, Engineering

1 memorial

Previously viewed

Prince Albert

Born Schloss Rosenau, Coburg, Germany, as Albert Francis Augustus Charles Emanuel. Married his first cousin, Victoria, in 1840. President of the Commissioners for the Great Exhibition. Generally in...

Person, Royalty, Seriously Famous, Germany

21 memorials

Courage brewery - Horselydown Lane

Founded by John Courage at the Anchor Brewhouse site. The earliest existing building dates from 1871 and was largely rebuilt in 1894 - 1895. Reconstructed, restored and refurbished in 1985 - 1989....

Building, Commerce, Animals, Food & Drink

2 memorials

E. Gifffen

Person

War dead, WW1

1 memorial

William Blake

Poet and artist. Except for 3 years spent on the coast near Bognor, Blake lived his whole life in London, making his living as an engraver. Born at 28 Broad Street, now Broadwick Street (the memori...

Person, Art, Poetry, Seriously Famous

10 memorials

Sir Henry Wood

Conductor and composer. The first British-born career conductor. Born in London. He founded the promenade concerts in 1895 at the Queen's Hall. When this was destroyed in the Blitz the concerts ...

Person, Music / songs

2 memorials