William Symington.

William Symington (1764-1831) was a Scottish engineer and inventor, and the builder of the first practical steamboat. Year 1764 ( MDCCLXIV) was a Leap year starting on Sunday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Year 1831 ( MDCCCXXXI) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian Calendar (or a Scotland ( Gaelic: Alba) is a Country in northwest Europethat occupies the northern third of the island of Great Britain. An engineer is a person professionally engaged in a field of Engineering. An inventor is a person who creates or discovers a new method form device or other useful means A steamboat or steamship, sometimes called a steamer, is a ship in which the primary method of propulsion is steam power, typically driving a Propeller

Symington was born in Leadhills, South Lanarkshire, Scotland to a family he described as being "respectable but not wealthy. Leadhills is a village in South Lanarkshire, Scotland, 5¾ miles WSW of Elvanfoot. South Lanarkshire ( Siorrachd Lannraig a Deas in Gaelic) is one of 32 unitary council areas of Scotland, covering the southern part of the Scotland ( Gaelic: Alba) is a Country in northwest Europethat occupies the northern third of the island of Great Britain. " His father worked as a practical mechanic at the Leadhills mines.

Although his parents intended for him to enter the ministry, he intended to use his good education to make a career as an engineer. So, in 1785, he joined his brother George in his attempts to build a steam engine at Wanlockhead, Dumfriesshire. Year 1785 ( MDCCLXXXV) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common A steam engine is a Heat engine that performs Mechanical work using Steam as its Working fluid. Wanlockhead is a village in Dumfries and Galloway, Scotland nestling in the Lowther Hills, which form part of the Southern Uplands Dumfriesshire or the County of Dumfries ( Siorrachd Dhùn Phris in Gaelic) is a Registration county of Scotland. While there, he impressed the manager of a local mining company, Gilbert Meason, so much that he was sent to the University of Edinburgh in 1786 to spend a few months attending science lectures. The University of Edinburgh (Oilthigh Dhùn Èideann founded in 1582 is a renowned centre for teaching and research in Edinburgh, Scotland, UK. Year 1786 ( MDCCLXXXVI) was a Common year starting on Sunday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common

By the time William joined his brother, George had already succeeded in building the second engine using James Watt's design to be built in Scotland. James Watt ( 19 January 1736 &ndash 25 August 1819 Boulton proved to be an excellent businessman and both men eventually made fortunes

Improvements to Watt's Design

William Symington quickly saw a way to marry the efficiency of the Watt engine with the simplicity of that devised by Thomas Newcomen. Thomas Newcomen (born shortly before 24 February 1664; died 5 August 1729) was an Ironmonger by trade and a Baptist Encouraged by Gilbert Meason, Symington demonstrated the practicality of his idea and his improved atmospheric engine was patented in 1787. Year 1787 ( MDCCLXXXVII) was a Common year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common When Watt sent someone to make a sketch of how this new engine worked, he discovered that the steam was condensed under a second piston and this was then pushed down when fresh steam entered the cylinder, forcing out the condensate. The power piston worked by the atmospheric pressure acting on the vacuum created by the condensing steam. This vacuum means "absence of matter" or "an empty area or space" for the cleaning appliance see Vacuum cleaner.

After its completion, Symington drew up a prospectus outlining the advantages of his invention, and this was circulated by Meason and his influential friends.

Dalswinton Steamboat

Later, Symington intended to carry out a trial in order to show than an engine would work on a boat without the boat catching fire. The vessel chosen for this experiment had been built in 1785 as a pleasure boat. It was agreed that Symington would install an engine and connect it to the wheels.

The trial finally took place on a loch near Dumfries on October 14, 1788. Dumfries (dəmˈfriːs is a town and former Royal burgh within the Dumfries and Galloway council area of Scotland and is situated close to the Events 1066 - Norman Conquest: Battle of Hastings - In England on Senlac Hill seven miles from Hastings, the forces Year 1788 ( MDCCLXXXVIII) was a Leap year starting on Tuesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Leap The trial was said to have been a success. Later accounts would say that the boat went at 5mph and that Robert Burns was on board. Robert Burns (25 January 1759 – 21 July 1796 (also known as Rabbie Burns, Scotland's favourite son, the Ploughman Poet, the Bard of Ayrshire However, if Burns was present, he failed to mention it in a letter he wrote on that day or in any of his verse. Certainly, the local minister and his son were on board and the latter reported the trial to Robert Cleland of Glasgow, who wrote that the trial failed and the boat had to be helped by hand cranks. Glasgow (ˈglæzgoʊ is the largest city in Scotland and third most populous in the United Kingdom The experiment did ultimately demonstrate, however, that a steam engine would work on a boat.

The Canal Steamboat

After the successful demonstration of a steam engine on a boat, a larger engine was commissioned that would be tried in a boat on the Forth and Clyde Canal.

The parts for the engine were ordered and an engine similar to that used previously, but a lot larger, was erected on another twin hull paddle boat. It was 60ft long. The first trial, on December 2, 1789, was unsuccessful because the paddle wheels were not up to the task and began to break up when an increase in speed was attempted. Events 1409 - The University of Leipzig opens 1755 - The second Eddystone Lighthouse is destroyed by fire Year 1789 ( MDCCLXXXIX) was a Common year starting on Thursday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common

However, Patrick Miller, the patron of the venture, did sanction repairs and, on December 26 and 27, more successful trials were done. Patrick Miller of Dalswinton, just north of Dumfries (1730-1815 was a Scottish banker and shareholder in the Carron Company engineering works and an enthusiastic Events 1481 - Battle of Westbrook - Holland defeats troops of Utrecht. Events 537 - The Hagia Sophia is completed 1512 - The Spanish Crown issues the Laws of Burgos, governing the

Mines and Mills

Although Symington is best remembered for his contribution to steam powered vessels, he also built successful engines for mines and mills.

The first of these was built on a mine in Wanlockhead in 1790. Year 1790 ( MDCCXC) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common year This was followed by engines in Sanquhar, and then in London. Sanquhar ( Gd An t-Seann Chathair) is a town in the south of Scotland in Dumfries and Galloway, on the River London ( ˈlʌndən is the capital and largest urban area in the United Kingdom. In 1792, he built a large pumping engine that James Watt was also considered for. Year 1792 ( MDCCXCII) was a Leap year starting on Sunday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Leap year In the same year, he built an engine for the colliery of James Bruce. This marked a move to live near Falkirk and, later, a place as engine consultant for Carron Company. Falkirk is also the name of the Scottish council area centred on the town see Falkirk (council area.

In 1793, he developed a crank drive with a crosshead above the cylinder, and built such an engine to wind coal from one of Bruce's pits. Year 1793 ( MDCCXCIII) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common his engine proved very successful and about fifteen were built.

In all, there are firm references to thirty-two engines built by Symington up until 1808, and passing mention of several more. Year 1808 ( MDCCCVIII) was a Leap year starting on Friday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Leap year

More Steamboats

It was Thomas, Lord Dundas who would motivate further steamboat trials. Thomas Dundas 1st Baron Dundas ( February 16, 1741 - June 14, 1820) known as Sir Thomas Dundas 2nd Baronet, from 1781 to 1794 was This was because he had extensive business interests on the east and west coasts and was governor of the Forth and Clyde Canal Company. The Forth and Clyde Canal crosses Scotland, providing a route for sea-going vessels between the Firth of Forth and the Firth of Clyde at the narrowest part Therefore, the canal was essential to his business, and steam power could speed up the movement of vessels through the canal. The Forth and Clyde Canal crosses Scotland, providing a route for sea-going vessels between the Firth of Forth and the Firth of Clyde at the narrowest part It helped progress that the Dundas family were one of the most powerful families of the late 18th century. The 18th century lasted from 1701 to 1800 in the Gregorian calendar, in accordance with the Anno Domini / Common Era numbering system

At a meeting of company directors on June 5, 1800, Dundas brought up the idea of having a Captain Schank boat worked by a steam engine provided by Symington. Events 70 - Titus and his Roman Legions breach the middle wall of Jerusalem in the Siege of Jerusalem Year -of the Julian calendar. The Gregorian calendar was 11 days ahead of the Julian calendar until Friday, but 12 days ahead since Saturday. The directors immediately agreed that this was a good idea.

A diagram of Symington's engine recently came to light and it showed an engine driving a forward wheel (or two wheels, one on either side) within the hull. The boat was built by Alexander Hart at Grangemouth and was tested on the River Carron in June 1801, when it moved with ease. Alexander Hart (October 1 1839 &ndash September 21 1911 was a major in the Confederate Army during the American Civil War. Grangemouth is a town and former Burgh in the council area of Falkirk, Scotland, and formerly in the County of Stirling. The River Carron ( Scottish Gaelic: Abhainn Carrann) is a river in central Scotland. Year 1801 ( MDCCCI) was a Common year starting on Thursday (see link for calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common year starting on Tuesday However, it was less successful on the canal and was rejected by the committee.

By 1800, Watt's patent had expired, so Symington set about the task of building a horizontal engine. He got a patent for his design in 1801. This design was ahead of its time because other engineers believed that it would not work. It was not widely accepted until 1825. Year 1825 ( MDCCCXXV) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian Calendar (or a Common

The Charlotte Dundas

Since the Canal Company had not been satisfied with the first boat, Lord Dundas gave Symington his suppoort for the building of a second boat. The Charlotte Dundas is regarded as the world's "first practical Steamboat " the first towing steamboat and the boat that demonstrated the practicality of steam power Therefore, a model of the new boat was shown to Dundas and was named after one of his daughters in an attempt to secure his interest. The hull of the boat was made by John Allan to Symington's direction and the Carron Company made the engine.

The Charlotte Dundas was first sailed on January 4, 1803, with Lord Dundas and some of his friends and relatives on board. Events 46 BC - Titus Labienus defeats Julius Caesar in the Battle of Ruspina. 1803 ( MDCCCIII) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a The crowd were pleased with what they saw, but Symington wanted to make improvements and another more ambitious trial was made on March 28. Events 37 - Roman Emperor Caligula accepts the titles of the Principate, entitled to him by the Senate. On this occasion, the steamboat towed two loaded vessels through the canal, covering 18 1/2 miles in 9 1/2 hours.

The Charlotte Dundas therefore became the first boat to do more than just move itself, but the Canal Company – to Symington's disappointment – did not wish to pursue the construction of another vessel. Symington was further upset when a scheme to build tug boats for the Duke of Bridgewater collapsed when the Duke died a few days before the trial was due to take place. Francis Egerton 3rd Duke of Bridgewater (21 May 1736 &ndash 8 March 1803 (also the 6th Earl of Bridgewater known as Lord Francis Egerton until 1748 was a British nobleman

Symington the Colliery Manager

As well as an engine builder, Symington was a colliery manager, also known as a 'viewer'. His first appointment in this capacity was in 1794 when the Trustees asked him to take over on James Bruce's death. Year 1794 ( MDCCXCIV) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a His salary for this was £100 per annum and a house on the estate. The Pound Sterling ( symbol £; ISO code: GBP) subdivided into 100 pence (singular penny) is the Currency This appointment ended in 1800 when Symington took over management of the Grange colliery near Bo'ness. Bo'ness, properly Borrowstounness, is a town in the Falkirk Council area of Scotland, lying on a hillside on the south bank of the William Cadell was behind Symington at this job.

In 1804, he joined a local businessman in a partnership intended to manage the Callendar colliery at Falkirk. Year 1804 ( MDCCCIV) was a Leap year starting on Sunday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a A new pump was needed there and this allowed Symington to develop what he called a 'lifting engine'. He may have built one of these for the Wanlockhead mines in 1819. Year 1819 ( MDCCCXIX) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display the full calendar in the Gregorian Calendar (or a Common year

The Callendar venture ended badly, however, and, in a dispute at the High Court in Edinburgh that lasted until 1810, Symington lost. The High Court of Justiciary is the supreme criminal court of Scotland. Edinburgh ( ˈɛdɪnb(ərə Dùn Èideann) is the Capital of Scotland and is its second largest city after Glasgow. Year 1810 ( MDCCCX) was a Common year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common year

Last Years

Due to Patrick Miller's unwillingness to pursue the potential of the 1789 trial, the loss of interest from Lord Dundas and the proceedings at the High Court, Symington was left out-of-pocket. Out-of-pocket expenses are direct outlays of cash which are not reimbursed

In 1829, in ill health and in debt, Symington and his wife moved to London to live with their daughter and her husband. For the game see 1829 (board game. Year 1829 ( MDCCCXXIX) was a Common year starting on Thursday (link will display Symington died in 1831 and was buried in St. Year 1831 ( MDCCCXXXI) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian Calendar (or a Botulph's churchyard. In 1890, a bust was unveiled in Edinburgh, in what is now the National Museum, in memory of the great engineer. Year 1890 ( MDCCCXC) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common

External links

• William Symington
• William Symington, inventor of steam navigation
• A history of the growth of the steam-engine