Thomas Stewart (civil engineer)
Encyclopedia
Thomas Stewart was a hydraulic engineer
, who was born in Scotland
and died at Cape Town
, South Africa
. He designed the Woodhead Dam
, which was named an International Historic Civil Engineering Landmark by the American Society of Civil Engineers
in 2008. He was called the "father of consulting engineering in South Africa" and the "first South African consulting engineer."
, Scotland on 30 March 1857. At age 16, he became a student of D.H. Halkett in Alyth
. In 1876, he was named an assistant at the Glasgow Corporation Waterworks. He studied at the University of Glasgow. In 1881, he was an assistant to John Wolfe-Barry
. In 1882, he was named by Crown Agents for the Colonies
as an assistant to J.G. Gamble for water supply and irrigation in the Cape Colony
.
He resigned from Government Service in 1886, visited Britain, and returned to South Africa as resident engineer for the Cradock
waterworks. He designed the waterworks for Wynberg
. In 1892, he began a private practice in Cape Town. His early projects included the design and construction of five reservoirs on Table Mountain. These were Woodhead, Hely-Hutchinson, Alexandra, Victoria, and De Villiers. He went on to build other reservoirs, waterworks, and wastewater treatment plants in South Africa.
In the Second Boer War
, he was a major without pay in the Royal Engineers
. He worked in the construction of defence works.
In 1902, he married Mary Mackintosh Young. They had three sons. She died in 1921. In 1928, he married Matabele, widow of F.R. Thompson.
He was a member of the Institution of Civil Engineers
, the second president of the Cape Society of Engineers, and a president of the Royal Society of South Africa.
Stewart died at Kenilworth, Cape Town
at the age of 85.
Hydraulic engineering
This article is about civil engineering. For the mechanical engineering discipline see Hydraulic machineryHydraulic engineering as a sub-discipline of civil engineering is concerned with the flow and conveyance of fluids, principally water and sewage. One feature of these systems is the extensive...
, who was born in Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
and died at Cape Town
Cape Town
Cape Town is the second-most populous city in South Africa, and the provincial capital and primate city of the Western Cape. As the seat of the National Parliament, it is also the legislative capital of the country. It forms part of the City of Cape Town metropolitan municipality...
, South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
. He designed the Woodhead Dam
Woodhead Dam
Woodhead Dam is a dam on Table Mountain, Western Cape, South Africa. It was built in 1897 and supplies water to Cape Town. The dam, which was the first large masonry dam in South Africa, was designated as an International Historic Civil Engineering Landmark by the American Society of Civil...
, which was named an International Historic Civil Engineering Landmark by the American Society of Civil Engineers
American Society of Civil Engineers
The American Society of Civil Engineers is a professional body founded in 1852 to represent members of the civil engineering profession worldwide. It is the oldest national engineering society in the United States. ASCE's vision is to have engineers positioned as global leaders who strive toward...
in 2008. He was called the "father of consulting engineering in South Africa" and the "first South African consulting engineer."
Life
Stewart was born at Craigend, PerthshirePerthshire
Perthshire, officially the County of Perth , is a registration county in central Scotland. It extends from Strathmore in the east, to the Pass of Drumochter in the north, Rannoch Moor and Ben Lui in the west, and Aberfoyle in the south...
, Scotland on 30 March 1857. At age 16, he became a student of D.H. Halkett in Alyth
Alyth
Alyth is a village in Perth and Kinross, Scotland, situated under the Hill of Alyth five miles northeast of Blairgowrie. The village has a population of 2,301...
. In 1876, he was named an assistant at the Glasgow Corporation Waterworks. He studied at the University of Glasgow. In 1881, he was an assistant to John Wolfe-Barry
John Wolfe-Barry
Sir John Wolfe-Barry was an English civil engineer of the late 19th and early 20th century. His most famous project was the construction of Tower Bridge over the River Thames in London.-Early career:...
. In 1882, he was named by Crown Agents for the Colonies
Crown Agents for Oversea Governments and Administrations Ltd
The Crown Agents for Oversea Governments and Administrations Ltd is a Greater London, UK based company. Prior to 1979, the Crown Agents was an autonomous body working for the British and other governments, and for multilateral development and funding institutions...
as an assistant to J.G. Gamble for water supply and irrigation in the Cape Colony
Cape Colony
The Cape Colony, part of modern South Africa, was established by the Dutch East India Company in 1652, with the founding of Cape Town. It was subsequently occupied by the British in 1795 when the Netherlands were occupied by revolutionary France, so that the French revolutionaries could not take...
.
He resigned from Government Service in 1886, visited Britain, and returned to South Africa as resident engineer for the Cradock
Cradock, Eastern Cape
Cradock is a town in the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa, in the upper valley of the Great Fish River, by rail northeast of Port Elizabeth. The town is the administrative seat of the Inxuba Yethemba Local Municipality in the Chris Hani District of the Eastern Cape. The estimated population...
waterworks. He designed the waterworks for Wynberg
Wynberg, Cape Town
Wynberg is a southern suburb of the City of Cape Town in Western Cape, South Africa. It is situated between Plumstead and Kenilworth, and is a main transport hub for the Southern Suburbs of Cape Town.- Geography :...
. In 1892, he began a private practice in Cape Town. His early projects included the design and construction of five reservoirs on Table Mountain. These were Woodhead, Hely-Hutchinson, Alexandra, Victoria, and De Villiers. He went on to build other reservoirs, waterworks, and wastewater treatment plants in South Africa.
In the Second Boer War
Second Boer War
The Second Boer War was fought from 11 October 1899 until 31 May 1902 between the British Empire and the Afrikaans-speaking Dutch settlers of two independent Boer republics, the South African Republic and the Orange Free State...
, he was a major without pay in the Royal Engineers
Royal Engineers
The Corps of Royal Engineers, usually just called the Royal Engineers , and commonly known as the Sappers, is one of the corps of the British Army....
. He worked in the construction of defence works.
In 1902, he married Mary Mackintosh Young. They had three sons. She died in 1921. In 1928, he married Matabele, widow of F.R. Thompson.
He was a member of the Institution of Civil Engineers
Institution of Civil Engineers
Founded on 2 January 1818, the Institution of Civil Engineers is an independent professional association, based in central London, representing civil engineering. Like its early membership, the majority of its current members are British engineers, but it also has members in more than 150...
, the second president of the Cape Society of Engineers, and a president of the Royal Society of South Africa.
Stewart died at Kenilworth, Cape Town
Kenilworth, Cape Town
- Geography :Kenilworth is bordered by Wynberg to the south and Claremont to the north. Kenilworth railway station is on the main line from Cape Town to Simon's Town...
at the age of 85.