Rennie, John

Epithet: FRS; civil engineer

British Library Archives and Manuscripts Catalogue : Person : Description : ark:/81055/vdc_100000001033.0x00023c

Epithet: of Add MS 35752

British Library Archives and Manuscripts Catalogue : Person : Description : ark:/81055/vdc_100000001033.0x00023f

Epithet: of Add MS 11815

British Library Archives and Manuscripts Catalogue : Person : Description : ark:/81055/vdc_100000001033.0x00023d

Epithet: engineer

British Library Archives and Manuscripts Catalogue : Person : Description : ark:/81055/vdc_100000001033.0x00023b

John Rennie was born on 30 August 1794 in London, second son of civil engineer, John Rennie (1761-1821), and younger brother of George Rennie (1791-1866). Following his education at Isleworth and at Greenwich, he entered his father's manufactory in Holland Street, London, where he acquired a practical knowledge of civil engineering. In 1815, he assisted his father in the construction of Southwark Bridge, later travelling abroad to study the great engineering works in Europe in 1819. On the death of his father in 1821, he remained in partnership with his brother George, conducting the civil engineering portion of the business. Using plans that had been prepared by his father, Rennie completed the construction of London Bridge, which was opened in 1831, the year in which he was knighted.

Rennie succeeded his father as engineer to the Admiralty, completing various works at Sheerness, Woolwich, Plymouth, Ramsgate, and the great breakwater at Plymouth, of which he published an account in 1848. He spent much of his career making additions and alterations to various harbours on different parts of the coast, both in England and in Ireland. He completed the drainage works in the Lincolnshire fens commenced by his father, and, in conjunction with Thomas Telford, constructed the Nene outfall near Wisbech from 1826 until 1831. Between 1827 and 1828, he restored the harbour of Boston, and made various improvements on the Welland. Rennie was elected a member of the Institution of Civil Engineers in 1844, becoming its president in 1845. In 1852, he laid out a system of railways in Sweden, for which he received the order of Gustavus Vasa. Retiring circa 1862, he died on 3 September 1874 at Bengeo, near Hertford.

From the guide to the John Rennie collection, 1857, (Scott Polar Research Institute, University of Cambridge)