Reports of the Late John Smeaton
Made on Various Occasions, in the Course of his Employment as a Civil Engineer

Published 1812–14, this illustrated four-volume set contains the reports and technical papers of Britain's foremost eighteenth-century civil engineer.

John Smeaton (Author)

9781108069786, Cambridge University Press

Paperback / softback, published 11 September 2014

494 pages, 22 b/w illus.
30 x 21 x 2.4 cm, 1.3 kg

Celebrated for his construction of the Eddystone Lighthouse near Plymouth, John Smeaton (1724–92) established himself as Britain's foremost civil engineer in the eighteenth century. A founder member of the Society of Civil Engineers, he was instrumental in promoting the growth of the profession. After his death his papers were acquired by the president of the Royal Society, Sir Joseph Banks, Smeaton's friend and patron. Using these materials, a special committee decided to publish 'every paper of any consequence' written by Smeaton, as a 'fund of practical instruction' for current and future engineers. These were published in four illustrated volumes between 1812 and 1814. Volume 2 contains Smeaton's reports on engineering works for bridges, including a proposal for the widening and improvement of London Bridge, as well as many plans for the creation or improvement of canals, mills and waterwheels.

1. London Bridge
2. Forth and Clyde
3. Calder and Aire
4. River Aire canal
5. Lea navigation
6. New River works
7. River Ure navigation
8. Hewick Bridge
9. Birmingham navigation
10. Bude haven canal
11. Kingston and Ewell canal
12. River Tyne canal
13. Kanquarry canal
14. Knottingly navigation
15. Sowerby Bridge canal
16. Dublin grand canal
17. Tyrone canal
18. North Level fens
19. Hatfield Chase level
20. Knightsbridge drain
21. Carlisle queries
22. Thames Embankment
23. Coquett dam
24. Lumley Castle
25. Kinnaird engine
26. York water-works engine
27. Lumley colliery engine
28. Chase water engine
29. Cronstadt engine
30. Gateshead Park engine
31. Ravensburn engine
32. Seacroft coke furnace
33. Coal engine
34. Mr Westgarth's engine
35. Corn mill
36. Gosport water-works
37. Chimney windmill
38. Oil mill, at Hull
39. Lead hills works
40. Mill for grindstones
41. Bocking fulling mill
42. Flint mill at Leeds
43. Pudding mill
44. Dalry mills
45. Kilnhurst forge
46. Thornton water wheel
47. Lord Irwin's water engine.

Subject Areas: History of science [PDX]