Obituary. Robert Napier, 1791-1876

226 MEMOIRS. and it was these high qualities which gained for him such uni- versal respect. Mr. May was elected a Member on the 3rd of May, 1864.

XR. ROBERT NAPIER, Engineer and shipbuilder, of Glasgow, late Presidentof the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, Member of the Institution of Civil Engineers, Chevalier of the Legion of Honour, and Commander of the Order of Danneborg (First Class), wasborn at Dumbarton on the 18th of June, 1791, hisfather being a blacksmithand a respected burgess of thattown. In 1807 he was apprenticed to his father for five ycars; from 1812 to 1815 he wrought in Edinburgh and in Glasgow as a blacksmith and mechanic, working for a short time under Mr. Robert Stevenson, M. Inst. C.E., in the former city. In 1515 Mr. Kapier received 550 from his father, with S45 of which he bought the tools and thegood-will of a small blacksmith’s shop in theGallow- gate, Glasgow, leaving 55 of working capital, with which sum he started in business,employing at first only two apprentices. In 1821, the business having increased, he engaged in iron-founding and engineering at Camlachie, at the east end of Glasgow, where, in 1823, he made his first marine engine for the “ Leven ” steam- boat, built to ply between Dumbarton and G1asgow.l The success of this engine ledso rapidly to other orders for marine engines that he found it necessary, in 1828, to remove to larger and more con-

’ The following is a list of the vcssels either engined or built, or both engined and built, by Mr. Napier. His usual practice was to contract both for hull and engines. When, in the earlier days of his career, the vessels were of wood, the hulls were built by sub-contract, generally by the late Mr. John Wood, of Port Glasgow, with whom he worked amicably for many years. Name. Year. Name. Year. Name. Year. ‘L Leven ” 1823 l “ Glow-worm” “ Shandon” “Ben Lomond” “ Queen Adelaide’! I ‘(Robert Napier ” ” NewDumbarton’ 1831 ~’ “ Vulcan ” ~ %Iona’s Isle 9’ “Lady of thelake’ “ Windsor Castle ” 1832 1) “ Dundee ” 1834 “ Helensburgh” ,’ “ City of Glasgow” ,, I’ “ Perth ” ‘(Aimwell ” ,, i~ L‘ Albert ” “ St. Andrew ” ‘‘ Mona ” i “Duchessof Suther. “ Ardincaple ” “ Hero ” i land ” “ Clarence” ‘I Water Xitch” 1 (‘Isabella Napier ” “ Stirling Castle” ‘l Castle Finn ” l ‘‘ Queen of the Isle’ “ Victoria” ‘ “ Tamar” , ‘‘ St. Columb” ‘(Tulliallan ” “ Elbe ” Engine for South ~ “ ” Sultan ~ 1 ‘l Maid of But; ’’ America ‘‘ Greenock ” l “ Isle of Bute “ Bernice ” 183G l i‘ Nile >) I‘ Arran Castle” ‘l London ” ‘‘ Menai ” 1830 ’ j ‘I Superb * Zenobis ” , 1457

Downloaded by [] on [11/09/16]. Copyright © ICE Publishing, all rights reserved. ilIEXOIRS. 247 venient premises in Washington Street, adjoining the harbour of Glasgow, and in 1835 he added to these the engineering works at Lancefield, and, in 1841, the shipbuilding yard at Govan, about 1 mile from Glasgow. At this yard Mr. Kapier (ad subsequentlJ- the firm of Messrs. R. Napierand Sons) builtmany first-class steamers of all sizes for the mercantile marine and for war pur- poses, for various countries, employing at times upwards of three thousand workpeople. Mr. Xapier’s early connection with steam navigation deserves to be specially noticed. In 1830 he was associated with the City of Glasgow Steam Packet Company, and engined most of their X-essels running between Glasgow and Liverpool. The succcss of that line led to his being applied to, in March 1633, by a company in .London (Mr. Patrick Tl-allnce being his correspondent) for his opinion on the practicability of successfully navigating t,he Atlanticwith steam-vessels betweenLiverpool and New York. His report was decidedly favourable, but thescheme was ultimately abandoned for want of funds. In 1834 the steam-ships “Dundee,” ‘‘ Perth,”and London,” belongingto the Dundee and London Shipping Company, were contracted for and engined by him; the

Name. Peer. Name. Year. Xame. Pear. ’ “ Commodore ” 1 1837 1) India, No. 2 l841 ‘‘ Prince, of Wales’’I ‘‘ Victoria ” ,, ‘l Acbar ” ,, , “ Thetis ” i‘ Engines for Tnrk-11 ‘1 Palermo ‘9 ,, “FireQueen”No.l ., ‘. Brim Boiroimhe” ment (3 pairs) Fin McCoul” 1842 :,Engine for East\ ‘‘ Sovereign ” ,, ’ India Co. ‘. Tartar ” I ‘‘ King Orry ” ,, Eugines for Turk- I‘ Rover ” i, “ Thunderbolt” ish Govern- *& Circassian” il “ Hibernia ” I ldi3 I ment (4 pairs) ‘.Duke of Rich-: Engine for Eio de 1 (‘Copenhagen ” mond ” 1 Janeiro ]! ” 1 ‘‘ Tyuwald” ” ” Viceroy ” ‘’ Hobart Town 1 1838 ‘l :: Vanguard ,, ,, “lslc of Arra;,” ’ , Dnndalk ” 1 ,, “Duke of Suther-\ .‘New sultan I .,“Watercllre” I ._ l! land” I

‘‘ Stromboli ” “Admiral ” ‘* Britannia ” Acadia ” “ Caledonia” ,, “ Europa” l ., I ,, “Canada” 1848 ,, l‘ Gimoom ”

India, No. 1 I :,

Downloaded by [] on [11/09/16]. Copyright © ICE Publishing, all rights reserved. 248 MENOIRS. hulls,by Mr. John Wood, of Port Glasgow, beinglong noted for their fine finish,for keepingtheir sheer so well when compared withother vessels, and for greatregularity in sail- ing. In 1836 hesupplied the Honourable EastIndia Company withthe “ Bernice.” In 1839 he provided the machineryfor thesteam-ship ‘‘ British Queen,” builtto ply between this countryand New York, which machinery was constructed to work either with the common jet-condenser, or with the late Mr. Samuel Hall’s patent surface condenser. He also, aboutthis time, built the steam paddle yacht “Fire King,” for the late Mr. Thomas Assheton Smith, which vessel was the first of any size with fine hollow lines. Shewas built from Mr. Smith‘sown model, and on trial proved thefastest vessel then afloat. In thisyear also (1839) Mr. Napier, besides subscribingliberally t,owards the trial voyage of the “ Sirius,” from GreatBritain to America, contractedwith the Hon. SamuelCunard for three steamers of 1,000 tons and 300 H.P. each, to ply between Great Britainand North America withthe mails. Mr. Napier being, however, convinced that vessels of this size were too smallfor such a trade, induced Mr. Cunard, after a time, to adopt his views;

Name. Year. Name. Year. Name. Year. ” “ Bolivia L849 I I‘ Arabia ” 1852 ~ “ Garland” “ Hamburgh ” Malvina ” 1853 1 ‘‘ Twilight” “ Robert Napier” 1250,, ’ :‘D;?,$Welling-“ Lady Eglinton” 17 AquillaImperi-‘ “City ofWorces-‘ I 1 “ ale ,, ter ” ’7 I “ Progress0 ” ‘‘ Asia ” “ WibOurg ” ,) 1 ,, ’j “ Goromandel ” ‘* Victorit” (1) ,, “ ColomF ” ,, (‘Fethia ” “ Africa ,, 1“Emeu ‘‘ Packi Zafer ” ‘‘ Rose ” ,, 1 “ Messina ” 1g54 “ Niger ” L‘ Wizard ” ,, ’ “ Black Swan ” ,, “ Napoleon 111.” I‘ Concordia ” ” ,, ‘‘ Malta (1st) ,, “ Queen Victoria ” “ Grecian ” ,, ‘(London ” ,, ‘‘ Erebus ” Wide Ayke” Dredger for Ayr ,, “ Seiue etRhone” Arabian “ ” ‘‘ 1&1 Vulcan ,, “ Terror ” “ Santiago” “ ” ,, Her Majesty ,, L‘ Medeah ” “ Sea Serpent” ‘ ,, “ Queen ” ,, “ Senator” “ Metropolitan ” ,, , “ Bilbao ” ,, “ Gaywan Bahri” “Lima ” ,, .. I “Louis XIV.” “ Shandon ” ‘‘ Transit ” 1 “ Lanccfield ” ‘‘ Quitu ” 1&2 1 I‘ Albury ” “ Bogota” ,, “ Gundagni ” “ /I “ Thilia”” ‘‘ Haiti ” ,, “ Fiery Cross ” 1;55 “ Trebizond” “ Magdalena ” ,, I ‘L Emerald ” ” Cosmoylitan” ,, , “ Earl of Erne” “ Spray I binow “ Miranda ” India Co. (2 ,, ‘Enginesfor Ham-’ “ La Plata” 1 burg (3 pairs) , ‘‘ Laniston ” ,, 1 ‘(Lady Head ” Olaf” ,, ,: “ Islesman”

Downloaded by [] on [11/09/16]. Copyright © ICE Publishing, all rights reserved. NEMOIRS. 249 and, although the vessels originally contemplated had been commenced, what wasdone was put aside, and in their placefour vessels of 1,200 tons and 400 H.P. were laid down, to meet the extra cost of which vessels, Mr. Napier, at Mr. Cunard‘s request, got some of his friends, Messrs. Burns, Messrs. Thornson, and M‘Connel, Mr. M‘Iver, and a few others, to join him in the contract. From this originated the nowcelebrated Cunard Company, the great success of which was mainly due to .the business character of Mr. Cunard, to the sound advice given, and to the honest, careful, a.nd substantial work turned out by Mr. Kapier, and to the superior mannerin which the vesselswere managed and officered by Messrs. Burns and M‘Iver. In 1853 Mr. Kapier took his sons James and John into partner- ship ; the former retired a few years after, when the business was carried on by Mr. Napier and his younger son. For a considerable time before his death Mr. Kapier took very little act’ive charge ; but in the earlystages of steam navigation, when so much of the success of steam companies depended on sound and correct views, he spared no pains, but went most carefully into all calculations for the size, power, carrying capacity, working expenses, &C., of

Name. Name. Name. Year. 4i Shadia ” “ Cormorant ” l‘ Endymion ” 1 Gunboat (East In- ‘I Racehorse ” “ Queen of Orwell ” dia Co.) “ Serpent ” “ Clan Alpine” Gunboat ,) “ Star ” Wolf ” Gunboat ,, ‘‘ Eclipse ” “ Stirling Castle ” Gunboat ,, l1 Lily ” “ Warwick Castle ” Gunboat ,, ‘’ Torch ” “ Rolf Krake ” Gunboat ,, ‘‘ Plover ” “ Roslin Castle ” EmperorAles- ’I Lee ” “ Pembroke Castle’ ander ” ‘l Mullet ” “ Osman Ghazy ” ‘

the different schemes or lines that were brought before him ; and to his honesty of purpose and perseverance in working out such details a great part of his success in lifewas undoubtedly due. Part, however, of his prosperitywas owing also to his tact in getting the right people about him as managers and foremen, by whom, as well as by all with whom he had occasion to come into contact, he was held in the highest respect. He never could put up with bad or slovenly work, and if a thing did not please him, either as to design or workmanship, hedid not hesitate to have it at once pulled to pieces and reconstructed. Mr. Napier was a man of great common sense, very equable in temper, trying always to do his best, and, this done, leaving the resultto a higherPower. Despite a ruggedapprenticeship and laborious manhood, his handsome figure and courteous bearing to all proclaimed him one of Nature’s noblemen. He was no public speaker, but always had a thoughtful word tosay on almost every topic thatmight be started. He had a greatdislike to hearing ill spoken of any one, and was, it may be said, without an enemy. From one of his teachers, Mr. Trail, of the Grammar School of Dumbarton, Mr. Napier imbibed a taste, while quite a young man, for the fine arts ; and the collection of paintings and articles of virtu in his residence at West Shandon, on the Gare- loch, was a continual source of enjoyment alike to himself and to his numerous visitors.

Name. Year. Name. Year. Name. Pear.

Vaynol ” I “ Mendez Nnnez ” ~ “ P. Caland ” “ Danae” “ Lorne ” “ Pharos ”

“ Lamont ” ~ ‘‘ Rupcrt ” ~ ‘(Amazonas” “Will 0’ the Wisp’ , “ Am!,” L‘ Promnt ” “ Bustard ” “ gastyr ;, i :: g&,lla,, 8 Troop Boats Ganges Canal Boat , ‘( Meiji Maru ” ‘‘ Washington ” “ Opal ” De Buffel ” ’~ 1‘ Galley of Lorne 9’ ‘‘ Sheldraky,” “ De Tyger” ~ ’‘ Xorden ” , “ Moorhen

Steam Launch “ Edinburgh Cas- ~ “ hlary Ellen ”

‘LAudacious ” i ~ tle” ‘‘ Dunrobin Castle” ‘‘ Invincible ” ,, “Windsor Castle V’ ‘( Lille Belt” “ Meteor ” ,, “Elizabeth Mar- , “ Wild Swtn ” ‘’ Europe ” ,, I tin” l “ Penguin ‘’ Afrique ” “ Courland ” 1 “ Northampton” “ Hotspur ” I&O I“Prince Edward” l “ Ingolf” “ Elgin ” ‘l “ Gnlicia ” ’ “ Canopus ”

Lord of the Isles’ ,, “ Modeste ” ~ “ Clytie ” “ Valdivia ” 1’ Goethe ” “ Balmoral Castle ” “Queen of the‘ 1 ~ ‘‘ Schiller” ,I 1, Thames” 1 ” ‘l Hoboken ” ,, “ Dublin Castle ” Cheops” ,, “ Plucky” Siam Yacht ,, . ‘*W. A. Scholten” l&4 11

Downloaded by [] on [11/09/16]. Copyright © ICE Publishing, all rights reserved. YEXOIRS. 251 Mr. Napier was elected a Member on the 31st of March, 1840. He died at West Shandon on the 23rd of June, 1876, aged eighty- five years and five days, surviving by eight months his wife, to whom he had been married about fifty-seven years.

MR.WILLIAM OLIVERGOODIKG, the eldest son of Mr. William Gooding, of Queenborough, Eent, was born in the year 1837. At the age of sixteen he went with his uncle, Mr. James Hodges, to Canada, and during the threefollowing years completed his educa- tion at the MGill College, Montreal. In 1856 he commenced the study of practicalengineering in the drawing office and work- shops of the carriage-building and locomotive departments of the Grand Trunk Railway of Canada. After this he was Assistant on the works atGananoque, under Mr. R. Crawford, Assoc. Inst. C.E., and also upon surveysin Lower Canada under Mr. Rubridge. Subsequently he wasposted to the Victoria Bridge, Montreal, then being carried out by Mr. Hodges for Messrs. Peto, Brassey, an& Betts. Whilstthere Mr. Gooding had sole charge of the construction of some of the cofferdams and piers, work of a difficult and responsiblecharacter, owingto the rapidity of the stream and to the short seasons during which the operations could be carried on. In 1859 Mr. Gooding made an extensive tour of inspection of thegreat engineering works thenin course of erection in the United States. On returning to Englandhe assisted as a draughts- manin preparing for publicationthe well-knownwork of Mr. Hodges on theVictoria Bridge.l In August, 1860, he obtained an appointment under Mr. Mathew Curry upon the Algiers and Blidah railway, for which Messrs. Pet0 and Betts were the con- tractors. He had the entire charge of the construction of a section of 15 miles, whichwas completed and opened intwo years. Re was also engaged upon the preliminary surveys and arrange- ments for carryingout the Boulevardde l’Imp6ratrice for the town of Algiers. In July, 1863, he became an assistant on the Dunaberg and Witepsk railway, then being carried out by Mr. Hartland for Messrs. Peto and Betts. There he had charge of 16 miles of line, including some important bridges and earthworks.

Vide “Construction of the GreatVictoria Bridge.” By J. Hodges. Folio Plates. London, 1860.