William Jessop: Difference between revisions
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William Jessop (1745-1814) was a noted English civil engineer, particularly famed for his work on canals, harbours and early railways in the late 18th and early 19th centuries. | William Jessop (1745-1814) was a noted English civil engineer, particularly famed for his work on canals, harbours and early railways in the late 18th and early 19th centuries. | ||
1745 January 23rd. Jessop was born in Devonport, Plymouth, to a Derbyshire family, the son of a shipwright (Josias Jessop | 1745 January 23rd. Jessop was born in Devonport, Plymouth, to a Derbyshire family, the son of a shipwright [[Josias Jessop (1710-1760)|Josias Jessop]] and his wife Elizabeth Foot. He was known to leading civil engineer [[John Smeaton]] through his work on the [[Eddystone Lighthouse]]. | ||
When his father died, William Jessop was taken on as a pupil by | When his father died, William Jessop was taken on as a pupil by Smeaton (who also acted as Jessop’s guardian), working on various canal schemes in Yorkshire. | ||
After working for some years as Smeaton's assistant, Jessop increasingly began to work as an engineer in his own right. | After working for some years as Smeaton's assistant, Jessop increasingly began to work as an engineer in his own right. | ||
c1790 Married Sarah Sawyer | |||
c.1792 With fellow engineer [[Benjamin Outram]], he founded the [[Butterley Co|Butterley Iron Works]] in Derbyshire to manufacture (amongst other things) cast-iron edge rails – a design Jessop had used successfully on a horse-drawn railway scheme for coal wagons in Loughborough, Leicestershire (presumably [[Charnwood Forest Canal]]). | |||
His projects included: | His projects included: | ||
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* oversight of the [[Ellesmere Canal]] – (1793-1805 - detailed design undertaken by [[Thomas Telford]] | * oversight of the [[Ellesmere Canal]] – (1793-1805 - detailed design undertaken by [[Thomas Telford]] | ||
* [[Rochdale Canal]] (1794-1798) | * [[Rochdale Canal]] (1794-1798) | ||
* [[West India Docks]] and [[Isle of Dogs Canal]], London (1800-1802); [[John Rennie]] was a consultant on the Docks project. | * [[West India Docks]] and [[Isle of Dogs Canal]], London (1800-1802); [[John Rennie (the elder)]] was a consultant on the Docks project. | ||
* [[Surrey Iron Railway]], linking Wandsworth and Croydon (1801-1802 – arguably the world's first public railway – albeit horse-drawn) | * [[Surrey Iron Railway]], linking Wandsworth and Croydon (1801-1802 – arguably the world's first public railway – albeit horse-drawn) | ||
* [[Bristol Harbour|"Floating Harbour"]] in Bristol (1804-1809) | * [[Bristol Harbour|"Floating Harbour"]] in Bristol (1804-1809) | ||
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1805 Following the death of [[Benjamin Outram]], Jessop and his family moved into Butterley Hall. In this year he finally started to receive dividends from the Butterley Co, the debts having finally been paid off. | 1805 Following the death of [[Benjamin Outram]], Jessop and his family moved into Butterley Hall. In this year he finally started to receive dividends from the Butterley Co, the debts having finally been paid off. | ||
c.1807 Featured in the painting of 'Men of Science Living in 1807-8', reproduced as an engraving by George Zobel, and William Walker<ref>National Portrait Gallery [https://www.npg.org.uk/collections/search/portrait/mw00103/Engraving-after-Men-of-Science-Living-in-1807-8?LinkID=mp07775&search=sas&sText=George+Zobel&role=art&rNo=0]</ref> | |||
1814 Died on 18 November. | 1814 Died on 18 November. | ||
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Read a review of his achievements and life at [[The Engineer 1900/04/27]]. | Read a review of his achievements and life at [[The Engineer 1900/04/27]]. | ||
William's son, [[Josias Jessop]] (d 1826) was also a noted canal engineer; he also is credited with surveying and building the [[Cromford and High Peak Railway]]. Another son, [[William Jessop|William]], took on the running of the [[Butterley Co]]. | A biography of William Jessop was published in 1979<ref>'William Jessop, Engineer' by Charles Hadfield and A. W. Skempton, David & Charles, 1979</ref> | ||
William's son, [[Josias Jessop]] (d 1826) was also a noted canal engineer; he also is credited with surveying and building the [[Cromford and High Peak Railway]]. Another son, [[William Jessop Junior|William]], took on the running of the [[Butterley Co]]. His son [[Henry Jessop]] worked in India. | |||
== See Also == | == See Also == | ||
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Jessop, William}} | {{DEFAULTSORT:Jessop, William}} | ||
[[Category: Biography]] | [[Category: Biography]] | ||
[[Category: Biography - Canals]] | |||
[[Category: Births 1740-1749]] | [[Category: Births 1740-1749]] | ||
[[Category: Deaths 1810-1819]] | [[Category: Deaths 1810-1819]] | ||
Latest revision as of 10:22, 8 November 2023
William Jessop (1745-1814) was a noted English civil engineer, particularly famed for his work on canals, harbours and early railways in the late 18th and early 19th centuries.
1745 January 23rd. Jessop was born in Devonport, Plymouth, to a Derbyshire family, the son of a shipwright Josias Jessop and his wife Elizabeth Foot. He was known to leading civil engineer John Smeaton through his work on the Eddystone Lighthouse.
When his father died, William Jessop was taken on as a pupil by Smeaton (who also acted as Jessop’s guardian), working on various canal schemes in Yorkshire.
After working for some years as Smeaton's assistant, Jessop increasingly began to work as an engineer in his own right.
c1790 Married Sarah Sawyer
c.1792 With fellow engineer Benjamin Outram, he founded the Butterley Iron Works in Derbyshire to manufacture (amongst other things) cast-iron edge rails – a design Jessop had used successfully on a horse-drawn railway scheme for coal wagons in Loughborough, Leicestershire (presumably Charnwood Forest Canal).
His projects included:
- Calder and Hebble Navigation (1758-70)
- Aire and Calder Navigation
- Ure and Ripon Canal (1767)
- Chester Canal (May 1778) as a contractor with James Pinkerton
- Barnsley Canal (1792-1802)
- Grand Canal of Ireland between the River Shannon and Dublin (1773-1805)
- Grand Junction Canal (1793-1805) - later part of the Grand Union Canal
- Cromford Canal, Derbyshire/Nottinghamshire
- Nottingham Canal (1792-1796)
- River Trent Navigation
- Grantham Canal (1793-1797 - the first English canal entirely dependent on reservoirs for its water supply
- oversight of the Ellesmere Canal – (1793-1805 - detailed design undertaken by Thomas Telford
- Rochdale Canal (1794-1798)
- West India Docks and Isle of Dogs Canal, London (1800-1802); John Rennie (the elder) was a consultant on the Docks project.
- Surrey Iron Railway, linking Wandsworth and Croydon (1801-1802 – arguably the world's first public railway – albeit horse-drawn)
- "Floating Harbour" in Bristol (1804-1809)
- Kilmarnock and Troon Railway (1807-1812; the first railway in Scotland authorised by Act of Parliament)
- Harbours at Shoreham-by-Sea and Littlehampton, West Sussex
From 1784 to 1805 Jessop lived in Newark in Nottinghamshire, where he twice served as town mayor.
1805 Following the death of Benjamin Outram, Jessop and his family moved into Butterley Hall. In this year he finally started to receive dividends from the Butterley Co, the debts having finally been paid off.
c.1807 Featured in the painting of 'Men of Science Living in 1807-8', reproduced as an engraving by George Zobel, and William Walker[1]
1814 Died on 18 November.
Read a review of his achievements and life at The Engineer 1900/04/27.
A biography of William Jessop was published in 1979[2]
William's son, Josias Jessop (d 1826) was also a noted canal engineer; he also is credited with surveying and building the Cromford and High Peak Railway. Another son, William, took on the running of the Butterley Co. His son Henry Jessop worked in India.