Civil engineering John Smeaton

smeaton s lighthouse

smeaton important in history, rediscovery of, , development of modern cement, identifying compositional requirements needed obtain hydraulicity in lime; work led invention of portland cement. portland cement led re-emergence of concrete modern building material, largely due smeaton s influence.

recommended royal society, smeaton designed third eddystone lighthouse (1755–59). pioneered use of hydraulic lime (a form of mortar set under water) , developed technique involving dovetailed blocks of granite in building of lighthouse. lighthouse remained in use until 1877 when rock underlying structure s foundations had begun erode; dismantled , partially rebuilt @ plymouth hoe known smeaton s tower.

cross section of eddystone lighthouse showing method of dovetailing



perth bridge, on tay

deciding wanted focus on lucrative field of civil engineering, commenced extensive series of commissions, including:

the calder , hebble navigation (1758–70)
coldstream bridge on river tweed (1762–67)
improvements river lee navigation (1765–70)
smeaton s pier in st ives, cornwall (1767-70)
perth bridge on river tay in perth (1766–71)
ripon canal (1766–1773)
smeaton s viaduct, carries a616 road (part of original great north road) on river trent between newark , south muskham in nottinghamshire (1768–70)
the forth , clyde canal grangemouth glasgow (1768–77)
langley on tyne smelt mill, nicholas walton, acting receivers greenwich hospital, london (1768)
banff harbour (1770–75)
aberdeen bridge (1775–80)
peterhead harbour (1775)
nent force level (1776–77)
harbour works @ ramsgate (retention basin 1776–83; jetty 1788–1792)
hexham bridge (1777–90)
the birmingham , fazeley canal (1782–89)
st austell s charlestown harbour in cornwall (1792)


the impounded harbour @ charlestown, cornwall

smeaton considered first expert witness appear in english court. because of expertise in engineering, called testify in court case related silting-up of harbour @ wells-next-the-sea in norfolk in 1782. acted consultant on disastrous 63-year-long new harbour @ rye, designed combat silting of port of winchelsea. project known informally smeaton s harbour , despite name involvement limited , occurred more 30 years after work on harbour commenced.