Life of Robert Stevenson
Civil Engineer

This 1878 biography explains how civil engineer Robert Stevenson's many lighthouses made the Scottish coastline much safer for shipping.

David Stevenson (Author)

9781108070584, Cambridge University Press

Paperback / softback, published 28 August 2014

322 pages, 13 b/w illus.
24.4 x 17 x 1.7 cm, 0.52 kg

Published in 1878, this biography of the civil engineer Robert Stevenson (1772–1850) was written by his second-youngest son David (1815–86), also a civil engineer and uncle to the author Robert Louis Stevenson. Having already published The Principles and Practice of Canal and River Engineering in 1872 (also reissued in this series), he set about writing this survey of his father's life and works, based on extracts from Robert's professional reports, notes from his diary, and communications to scientific journals and societies between 1798 and 1843. Perhaps most widely known for his practical and persuasive leadership in building many lighthouses for the Northern Lighthouse Board - including that on the notorious Bell Rock, over which he came into conflict with engineer John Rennie regarding the design - Stevenson ensured that the Scottish coastline became a much safer place for shipping for decades to come.

Preface
1. Early life
2. Bell Rock lighthouse
3. Lighthouse illumination
4. Roads
5. Improvement of Edinburgh
6. Ferries
7. Railways
8. Harbours and rivers
9. Preservation of timber
10. Bridges
11. Wolf Rock lighthouse
12. Carr Rock beacon
13. Cranes
14. Fisheries
15. Marine surveying
16. Contributions on engineering and scientific subjects
17. Extracts from early reports
18. Retrospect of Mr Stevenson's life
Appendix
Index.

Subject Areas: History of engineering & technology [TBX]