James Kennedy (engineer)
Encyclopedia
James Kennedy {13 Jan 1797 - 25 Sep 1886) was a British locomotive and marine engineer.
James Kennedy was born in the village of Gilmerton near Edinburgh, Scotland. He was apprenticed at the age of 13 to a millwright near Dalkeith, where he remained for five years. He spent some years working as a millwright, working with winding and pumping engines at several places before moving to Lavenoch Hall, near Hamilton, where he was employed to erect pumping and winding engines of his own design.
In Liverpool to supervise the installation of a marine engine, he met George Stephenson
, the locomotive pioneer. Stephenson was then establishing his locomotive works at Newcastle-on-Tyne and appointed Kennedy manager in 1824. While in this post he constructed two pairs of stationary winding engines and planned the first three locomotives for the opening of the Stockton and Darlington Railway
in 1825.
In 1825 he left Stephenson return to Liverpool as manager of Mather, Dixon and Company
but very soon joined locomotive builder Edward Bury and Company as foreman of the Clarence Foundry. In 1842 he became a partner in the firm, now renamed Bury, Curtis and Kennedy
.
But in 1844 he moved again to manage the Liverpool shipmaker Thomas Vernon and Son where he introduced iron deck beams.
He was a founder member of the Institute of Mechanical Engineers in 1847, becoming its President in 1860.
He died in 1886 at his home, Cressington Park, Garston, near Liverpool. He was survived by his wife, Adelaide.
James Kennedy was born in the village of Gilmerton near Edinburgh, Scotland. He was apprenticed at the age of 13 to a millwright near Dalkeith, where he remained for five years. He spent some years working as a millwright, working with winding and pumping engines at several places before moving to Lavenoch Hall, near Hamilton, where he was employed to erect pumping and winding engines of his own design.
In Liverpool to supervise the installation of a marine engine, he met George Stephenson
George Stephenson
George Stephenson was an English civil engineer and mechanical engineer who built the first public railway line in the world to use steam locomotives...
, the locomotive pioneer. Stephenson was then establishing his locomotive works at Newcastle-on-Tyne and appointed Kennedy manager in 1824. While in this post he constructed two pairs of stationary winding engines and planned the first three locomotives for the opening of the Stockton and Darlington Railway
Stockton and Darlington Railway
The Stockton and Darlington Railway , which opened in 1825, was the world's first publicly subscribed passenger railway. It was 26 miles long, and was built in north-eastern England between Witton Park and Stockton-on-Tees via Darlington, and connected to several collieries near Shildon...
in 1825.
In 1825 he left Stephenson return to Liverpool as manager of Mather, Dixon and Company
Mather, Dixon and Company
Mather, Dixon and Company was a Locomotive manufacturer in Liverpool, England.Established in 1826 at the Bath Street Foundry, the first engine was a small four-coupled tank locomotive in 1827, in addition to a steam traverser and two mobile cranes...
but very soon joined locomotive builder Edward Bury and Company as foreman of the Clarence Foundry. In 1842 he became a partner in the firm, now renamed Bury, Curtis and Kennedy
Bury, Curtis, and Kennedy
Bury, Curtis and Kennedy was a steam locomotive manufacturer in Liverpool, England.Edward Bury set up his works in 1826, under the name of Edward Bury and Company. He employed James Kennedy, who had gained experience of locomotive production under Robert Stephenson and Mather, Dixon and Company,...
.
But in 1844 he moved again to manage the Liverpool shipmaker Thomas Vernon and Son where he introduced iron deck beams.
He was a founder member of the Institute of Mechanical Engineers in 1847, becoming its President in 1860.
He died in 1886 at his home, Cressington Park, Garston, near Liverpool. He was survived by his wife, Adelaide.