John Bourne (c1813- ), civil engineer
Son of Captain Richard Bourne (1772-1851), of Ireland, one of the founders of the Peninsular and Oriental Steam Navigation Co, friend of John Penn.
c.1813 Born in Dublin, Ireland[1]
1832 Entered the works of John Duffus and Co of Aberdeen to learn engineering; his father had just placed an order with them for the Royal Tar (later seen as a pioneer vessel of P&O).[2]
1833 Left Aberdeen, moving to Caird and Co of Glasgow where he developed ideas about the varying the lap in valves of steam engines and developed a method of reversing engines.
1840 With his father, observed the trials of the Penn engines in the Lotos of P&O on the Nile.
of Hutchesontown Engine-Works in Glasgow
1846 December. Surveyor for the East Indian Railway who opposed their plans and unsettled some of the directors of the company by advocating that a single track line laid upon part of the Grand Trunk road was all that was required and that the 150 miles from Calcutta could never be profitable. Advertisement: 'RAILWAYS IN INDIA. This day, price 6d., LETTER to the SHAREHOLDERS of the EAST INDIAN and GREAT WESTERN of BENGAL RAILWAYS, on their Present Position and Future Prospects. By One of Themselves. London: Smith, and Co., 65. Cornhill.' [3] [4] [5] [6] Note: In the second edition he gives his name.[7]
1847 September. Mention of John Bourne, formerly of the East Indian Railway in connection with taking some samples of timber to Calcutta.[8]
1849 A report to the "Committee for the establishment of steam navigation on the rivers of India" by John Bourne C.E. proposed a scheme for construction of craft which could use the engines of Messrs James Watt and Co in the shallow waters of the River Ganges[9][10]
Later he became an authority on the literature of the steam-engine.
1851 A visitor at 11 Upper Woburn Place, St Pancras: John Bourne (age 38 born Dublin), Civil Engineer and Unmarried. In the house of Alexander Dunn (age 26 born Aberdeen), a Stone Merchant, and his brother David Dunn (age 20 born Aberdeen), Civil Engineer. One servant.[11]
1851 The Artisan Club published "A Treatise on the Steam Engine", edited by John Bourne[12]
1856 Published in one volume "Catechism on the Steam Engine[13]
1856/59 John Bourne Esq, of 9 Billiter Street, late of John Bourne and Co of Glasgow and Greenock, was managing director of the Oriental Inland Steam Co Ltd, established for the navigation of the rivers of India, which doubled its capital.[14] [15] [16]
1865 Published a treatise on the "Screw Propeller"[17]
1867 The Oriental Inland Steam Co was wound up
1869 "The well known engineer and writer on steam engineering" proposed an auxiliary propeller for use with sailing vessels; trial on the Warwick Castle of the Castle Line[18]
1870 John Bourne and Co, 66 Mark-lane, London EC, engineers, shipbuilders and contractors[19]
1872 of 66, Mark Lane, London, E.C.
1881 Appointed Principal of the new College of Practical Engineering, Muswell Hill.[20]
1881 Lodger at 21 Richmond Road, Kensington, London; John Bourne (age 68 born Ireland), Electrical and Mechanical Engineer. Unmarried.[21]
1883 Advertised places at the College[22]
1890 Wrote to The Engineer setting out his ideas about navigating the rivers of India
1894 A John Bourne, engineer, died in Dublin[23]; is this the same person?
See Also
Sources of Information
- ↑ 1851 census
- ↑ The Engineer 1875/10/29
- ↑ London Daily News - Wednesday 23 December 1846
- ↑ History of the East Indian Railway by George Huddleston. Published 1906
- ↑ Liverpool Mercury - Tuesday 25 May 1847
- ↑ Liverpool Mercury - Tuesday 01 August 1848
- ↑ Greenock Advertiser - Friday 04 August 1848
- ↑ Morning Post - Monday 20 November 1848
- ↑ The Times, Jul 03, 1849
- ↑ Liverpool Mercury - Tuesday 24 July 1849
- ↑ 1851 Census
- ↑ The Times, Jan 22, 1851
- ↑ The Times, Apr 25, 1856
- ↑ Edinburgh Evening Courant - Saturday 04 October 1856
- ↑ Dublin Evening Mail - Wednesday 11 March 1857
- ↑ The Times, Feb 16, 1859
- ↑ The Times, Sep 27, 1865
- ↑ The Engineer 1869/04/30
- ↑ The Times, Jan 25, 1870
- ↑ Western Daily Press - Thursday 08 September 1881
- ↑ 1881 Census
- ↑ The Times, Dec 10, 1883
- ↑ Calendar of Wills Administrations