John Mackinlay
John Mackinlay (1823-1893)
1893 Obituary [1]
JOHN MACKINLEY, born on the 10th of July, 1823, was the son of Mr. James Mackinlay, who for many years was employed in the works of Messrs. G. and J. Rennie, Holland Street, Blackfriars Road. In due time the youth - in accordance with a practice then prevalent of admitting without premium the eldest sons of old employees - served a regular apprenticeship to that firm. So well did he satisfy the Messrs. Rennie that in 1841 he was appointed on their recommendation a Junior Engineer in the Indian Navy, under covenant.
On arriving in Bombay he was attached to the Dockyard, in charge of the pattern or model department, and some eighteen months later was transferred to the Steam Factory to assist in fitting it up. In 1843 he was promoted to 2nd-grade and assisted in fitting out the first expedition to China. Shortly after the capture of Sindh in the following year he was posted to the Indus, where he was occupied in conveying troops and stores up and down the river. We also served on the staff of the flotilla on shore, keeping the vessels in repair and in readiness for any emergency; and during the first Sikh mar went up the river as assistant to the Engineer in charge of the floating factory.
On the declaration of peace he returned to headquarters and in July, 1847, was promoted to 1st-grade for meritorious service. In the following year an attack of brain fever compelled him to return to England on furlough. After an absence of eleven months Mr. Mackinlay was again attached to the Steam Factory at Bombay and in January, 1849, was placed in charge of the Upper Turnery and Pattern Department, his duties including the instruction of the numerous apprentices, European and native, being brought up for the public service. He remained in charge of that Department until August, 1857, when he was appointed to the more responsible post of Assistant to the Chief Engineer and Inspector of Machinery, to which office he succeeded in February, 1862.
On the abolition of the Indian Navy in the following year, the works at the Dockyard of Bombay were increased, and were still further augmented by the introduction of the Overland Transport Service and by the calling at Bombay, for repairs, of British war-ships on the East Indian station. As far as the machinery was concerned these extra duties devolved upon Mr. Mackinlay, without additional remuneration of any kind. In 1864 he was appointed Engineer Surveyor to the Port of Bombay, which office he was able, by working early and late, to hold without resigning the post of Chief Engineer and Inspector of Machinery. These duties however proved too onerous and in 1867 he was again compelled by ill health to take six months’ leave of absence. He returned to Bombay in February, 1868, and resumed work, which at times was carried out under circumstances of great difficulty owing to the scarcity of European labour. Two years later however his health again broke down and in March, 1871, he was compelled to resign his appointments and proceed invalided to England. Mr. Mackinlay passed the remainder of his life in comparative retirement and died in London on the 22nd of April, 1893. He was elected a Member of the Institution on bhe 3rd of December, 1867.
1893 Obituary [2]