An Historical Report on Ramsgate Harbour

Smeaton, John [1724-1792] Civil Engineer and Engineer to Ramsgate Harbour

Published by London: The Second Edition . London 1791., 1791

About this Item

Hard back binding in half maroon leather with new end papers being replaced some time ago, russet pebble cloth covers gilt title and author lettering to the upper panel. 8vo. 9'' x 6''. Contains [viii] 86 printed pages of text with two 9'' x 13'' fold-out maps, the first being a Map of the Downs which shows Ramsgate in relation to the South and North Foreland's, the second fold-out map dated 1790 is a Plan of Ramsgate Harbour and the Principal Works thereof. Smeaton was born in England of Scottish ancestry. He began writing papers on instrument making and by 1753 was elected to the Royal Society. In 1755 he was selected to design a new lighthouse for the Eddystone Rocks, it included stone blocks with interlocking dovetails. He also developed a cement made of limestone and clay that could be set under water. Smeaton next went to work on water mills, his experiments led to a major paper written in 1759. He went on to build 43 mills, the most significant being the mill at the Carron Company Ironworks in 1769. He also invented a tidal pump at London Bridge for the supply of water to subscribers in 1767. Smeaton also made improvements to Edmund Halley's diving bell by adding an air pump to it, and it was this invention that was first used in the construction of Ramsgate Harbour in 1774. He died in 1792 at Austhorpe, Leeds, the place of his birth. His influence changed thinking of many of his peers to such a degree that the Institute of Civil Engineers, founded in 1771 and of which Smeaton was a founding member, was renamed the Smeatonian Society. Rubbing to the corners of the boards, the front hinge is exposed internally, however, the binding is firm and secure, some interesting pencil notes, along with some underlining, have been made to the margins. Member of the P.B.F.A. KENT [Ramsgate].

Seller Inventory # 51685

Bibliographic Details

• Title: An Historical Report on Ramsgate Harbour
• Publisher: London: The Second Edition . London 1791.
• Publication Date: 1791
• Binding: Hardcover