Henry Vint
Henry Vint (1778-1852)
1838 Henry Vint, Engineer, of Crescent House, Lexden, Colchester, became a member of the Institution of Civil Engineers.[1]
1853 Obituary [2]
Henry Vint was born in London in the year 1778, and after receiving his education at the Soho School, under Dr. Barrow, entered into business as a shawl manufacturer, in which, however, he did not long continue; but being in possession of ample means, he frequently visited the Continent, and resided at Naples for nearly six years, cultivating that taste for the fine arts which induced him, eventually, to make the collection of pictures, bronzes, and antiquities, &C., which, at his decease, he liberally bequeathed to the town of Colchester, where he had fixed his residence.
He took a very active part in the public affairs of that town, was twice elected Mayor, and in acknowledgement of the services he rendered, in procuring the erection of the new town-hall, he was presented with a valuable piece of plate by his townsmen.
Mr. Vint joined the Institution as an Associate in the year 1838, and frequently attended the meetings, being much attached to mechanical pursuits.
He was the inventor of a submerged paddle-wheel for steamers, for which he took out patents, and of which he exhibited the model at the last conversazione, only a few weeks before his decease, which occurred suddenly, on the 22nd of June, 1852, in the seventy-fourth year of his age, universally regretted by all who had the good fortune to enjoy his acquaintance.