George Rennie (engineer) facts for kids

George Rennie was a skilled engineer from London.

George Rennie (born December 3, 1791 – died March 30, 1866) was an important engineer from London, England. He came from a family of famous engineers. His father was the Scottish engineer John Rennie the Elder. His brother was Sir John Rennie.

Early Life and Education

George Rennie was born in London. He went to school at St. Paul's School. Later, he studied at the University of Edinburgh.

In 1811, he started working in his father's engineering office. Many big projects were happening there. In 1818, he got a job at the Royal Mint. This is where coins are made. He worked there for almost eight years. He helped inspect the machines and the metal dies used for making coins.

Working with His Brother

The J. & G. Rennie Company

After his father passed away in 1821, George teamed up with his younger brother, John. Their company was called J. and G. Rennie. For many years, they finished the large projects their father had started.

John focused on building things like bridges and canals. George was in charge of the mechanical side of the business. This meant he worked on machines and engines. Around 1826, George helped build the Grosvenor Bridge (Chester) in Chester. This impressive bridge crosses the River Dee.

Railway Projects

In 1825, the Rennie brothers were asked to help with the Liverpool and Manchester Railway. This was a very important early railway line. The original plans had some issues in Parliament. So, a new route was needed.

The brothers were very busy, so they hired Charles Blacker Vignoles to survey the new route. This new route was approved by Parliament in 1826. The railway directors wanted the Rennie brothers to be the main engineers. However, they couldn't agree on how much time the brothers would spend on the project. So, the job went to George Stephenson instead.

George Rennie still worked on many railway projects. He made plans for lines connecting cities like Birmingham and Liverpool. He also worked on railways in Belgium, including the Namur and Liege railway. He became the chief engineer for that project in 1846.

Mechanical Innovations

George Rennie helped develop the screw-propeller, which looked like a fish's tail fin.

George Rennie was especially talented in mechanical engineering. He oversaw the manufacturing part of their company. They built many different types of machines.

Some of their notable projects included:

• The first machines for making biscuits.
• Mills for grinding corn and chocolate for the Royal Navy.
• Machinery for the Royal William Victualling Yard in Plymouth.
• Locomotives for the London and Croydon Railway.

The company also received many orders from other countries. The British Navy hired them to build engines for their ships.

The Screw-Propeller

George Rennie was very interested in the screw-propeller. This invention helps ships move through water. His company built the engines for Archimedes. This was the world's first steamship powered by a propeller.

Later, in 1840, his company built the Dwarf for the British Navy. This was the first ship in the British Navy to use a screw-propeller. Rennie also helped improve the planer, a machine tool used to smooth metal surfaces.

Recognition and Legacy

In 1822, George Rennie was chosen as a Fellow of the Royal Society. This is a very respected group of scientists. He wrote papers about the friction of metals. He also presented his work to the British Association and the Institution of Civil Engineers. He became a member of the Institution of Civil Engineers in 1841.

Later Life and Death

George Rennie passed away on March 30, 1866. He was 74 years old. He died from injuries he got in an accident the year before. He was buried near Dorking. He was married and had two sons and one daughter.