John Rennie

Scottish civil engineer

Written and fact-checked by The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica

Last Updated: Apr 3, 2024 • Article History

Category: Science & Tech

Born:: June 7, 1761, Phantassie, East Lothian, Scotland

Died:: October 4, 1821, London, England (aged 60)

See all related content →

John Rennie (born June 7, 1761, Phantassie, East Lothian, Scotland—died October 4, 1821, London, England) was a Scottish civil engineer who built or improved canals, docks, harbours, and bridges throughout Britain. Three of his spans were built across the River Thames at London. Rennie began his career as a millwright, and his first major work was designing the machinery for Matthew Boulton and James Watt’s project at the Albion Flour Mills in London. Rennie greatly extended the use of iron for gears and other parts of machinery. In the 1790s Rennie began work on the Kennet and Avon Canal in ...(100 of 238 words)

Access the full article

Help support true facts by becoming a member.