Andrew Meikle facts for kids
Andrew Meikle (born May 5, 1719 – died November 27, 1811) was a clever Scottish mechanical engineer. He is famous for inventing the threshing machine. This machine helps remove the outer husks from grains like wheat. His invention was a big step forward during the British Agricultural Revolution in the late 1700s.
The Threshing Machine
Andrew Meikle's threshing machine was invented around 1786. Before this, farmers had to separate grain from its stalks by hand, which was very hard work. Meikle's machine made this job much faster and easier. Some people believe he improved an older design by another Scottish farmer named Leckie. There are also stories that Michael Stirling invented a similar machine in 1758, which he used on his farm for many years.
Windmill Improvements
Around 1772, Andrew Meikle also came up with a smart idea for windmills. He invented "spring sails". Before this, windmills used simple canvas sails. Meikle's spring sails were made of many small shutters. These shutters could be opened or closed using levers. This made it much easier and safer to control the windmill's speed, especially during strong winds or storms.
His Life and Legacy
Andrew Meikle worked as a millwright, which is someone who designs and builds mills. He worked at Houston Mill in East Linton, East Lothian, Scotland. He was a great inspiration to John Rennie, who later became a very famous civil engineer.
Meikle passed away at Houston Mill in 1811. He is buried in the churchyard of Prestonkirk Parish Church in East Lothian. His grave is near the grave of John Rennie's father, George Rennie, who was a farmer.
In 2011, Andrew Meikle was one of the first people to be honored in the Scottish Engineering Hall of Fame. This shows how important his inventions were to engineering and farming. After his death, people recognized his contributions. A kind person named Sir John Sinclair helped raise money to make sure Meikle was comfortable in his old age. His tombstone mentions his family of clever mechanics and how his threshing machine helped farmers in Britain and other countries.
See also
- List of places in East Lothian
- Phantassie Doocot
