John Simpson (1755-1815)
John Simpson (1755-1815), stonemason and civil engineering contractor
Apparently was born in Stenhouse, Midlothian; trained as mason.
1790 Supervised renovation of St Chad's in Shrewsbury
1793 Won the tender for one of Thomas Telford's arch bridges at Chirk
1795 Joined James Varley in work on the Pontcysyllte Aqueduct
1796 Tendered successfully to complete the Chirk Aqueduct
c.1800 Repair work on the foundations of the Pulteney Bridge, Bath, for which Thomas Telford was the engineer
1800 Took over the work on the piers and abutments of the Pontcysyllte Aqueduct
1804 Gained the contract for the masonry work on the Caledonian Canal, with John Cargill and John Wilson as supervisors on the east and west ends, respectively.
Also worked on building roads in the Highlands
1812 Partnership dissolved. '...all Partnership Concerns subsisting between John Simpson, of the town of Shrewsbury, in the County of Salop, Builder, and William Hazledine, of the same place, Ironfounder, are this day dissolved by mutual consent...'[1]
1815 Died. His nephew John Straphen took over his business; he worked with John Stanton and John Hall at various times.