David Stevenson (engineer)
Encyclopedia
David Stevenson FRSE FRSSA (1815 – 1886) was a Scottish lighthouse
designer, who designed over thirty lighthouses in and around Scotland
, and helped found a great dynasty
of lighthouse engineering.
, and brother of the lighthouse engineers Alan
and Thomas Stevenson
, between 1854 and 1880 he designed many lighthouses, all with his brother Thomas. In addition he helped Richard Henry Brunton
design lighthouses for Japan
, inventing a novel method for allowing them to withstand earthquakes. His sons David Alan Stevenson
and Charles Alexander Stevenson
continued his work after his death, building nearly thirty further lighthouses. His nephew was Robert Louis Stevenson
.
Lighthouse
A lighthouse is a tower, building, or other type of structure designed to emit light from a system of lamps and lenses or, in older times, from a fire, and used as an aid to navigation for maritime pilots at sea or on inland waterways....
designer, who designed over thirty lighthouses in and around 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 helped found a great dynasty
Dynasty
A dynasty is a sequence of rulers considered members of the same family. Historians traditionally consider many sovereign states' history within a framework of successive dynasties, e.g., China, Ancient Egypt and the Persian Empire...
of lighthouse engineering.
Background
The son of engineer Robert StevensonRobert Stevenson (civil engineer)
Robert Stevenson FRSE MInstCE FSAS MWS FGS FRAS FSA was a Scottish civil engineer and famed designer and builder of lighthouses.One of his finest achievements was the construction of the Bell Rock Lighthouse.-Early life:...
, and brother of the lighthouse engineers Alan
Alan Stevenson
Alan Stevenson FRSE MInstCE was a Scottish lighthouse engineer who was Engineer to the Board of Northern Lighthouses...
and Thomas Stevenson
Thomas Stevenson
Thomas Stevenson PRSE MInstCE FRSSA FSAScot was a pioneering Scottish lighthouse designer and meteorologist, who designed over thirty lighthouses in and around Scotland, as well as the Stevenson screen used in meteorology...
, between 1854 and 1880 he designed many lighthouses, all with his brother Thomas. In addition he helped Richard Henry Brunton
Richard Henry Brunton
Richard Henry Brunton FRGS MICE was the so-called "Father of Japanese lighthouses". Brunton was born in Muchalls, Kincardineshire, Scotland...
design lighthouses for Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
, inventing a novel method for allowing them to withstand earthquakes. His sons David Alan Stevenson
David Alan Stevenson
David Alan Stevenson was a lighthouse engineer who built twenty six lighthouses in and around Scotland.Born into the famous Stevenson family of lighthouse engineers, son of David Stevenson, brother of Charles Stevenson, and nephew of Thomas Stevenson, he was educated at Edinburgh University...
and Charles Alexander Stevenson
Charles Alexander Stevenson
Charles Alexander Stevenson was a Scottish lighthouse engineer who built twenty three lighthouses in and around Scotland....
continued his work after his death, building nearly thirty further lighthouses. His nephew was Robert Louis Stevenson
Robert Louis Stevenson
Robert Louis Balfour Stevenson was a Scottish novelist, poet, essayist and travel writer. His best-known books include Treasure Island, Kidnapped, and Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde....
.
Lighthouses designed by David Stevenson
- Whalsay Skerries (1854)
- Out Skerries (1854)
- Muckle FluggaMuckle FluggaMuckle Flugga is a small rocky island north of Unst in the Shetland Islands, Scotland. It is often described as the northernmost point of the British Isles, but the smaller islet of Out Stack is actually farther north...
(1854) - Davaar (1854)
- UshenishUshenishUshenish is a headland on the remote east coast of South Uist in the Outer Hebrides of Scotland. There has been a lighthouse on the headland since 1857.-Lighthouse:...
(1857) - South RonaSouth RonaRona , sometimes called South Rona to distinguish it from North Rona, is a small island in the Scottish Inner Hebrides, north of Raasay and northeast of Skye. It has a total area of .-Geography and geology:...
(1857) - KyleakinKyleakinThe village of Kyleakin is situated on the east coast of the Isle of Skye in the Inner Hebrides, along the strait of Kyle Akin opposite the northwest Scottish mainland town of Kyle of Lochalsh...
(1857) - OrnsayOrnsayOrnsay is a small tidal island to the east of the Sleat peninsula on the Isle of Skye in the Inner Hebrides of Scotland.-Description:Widely acknowledged as one of the most beautiful tidal islands in Western Scotland, the island provides good shelter to a natural harbour which is overlooked by the...
(1857) - Sound of MullSound of MullThe Sound of Mull is a sound between the Inner Hebridean island of Mull and Scotland. It forms part of the Atlantic Ocean....
(1857) - Cantick Head (1858)
- BressayBressay-Geography and geology:Bressay lies due south of Whalsay, west of Noss, and north of Mousa. At , it is the fifth largest island in Shetland. The population is around 400 people, concentrated in the middle of the west coast, around Glebe, Fullaburn and Maryfield....
(1858) - Ruvaal (1859)
- Corran Point (1860)
- FladdaFladdaFladda is one of the Slate Islands, off the west coast of Argyll and Bute, Scotland.Fladda is an islet in the Sound of Luing, between Luing and Belnahua. The name Fladda originates from the Old Norse for 'flat island'. Fladda has a lighthouse and lighthousekeepers' cottages built in 1860 by...
(1860) - McArthur's Head (1861)
- St Abb's HeadSt Abb's HeadSt. Abb's Head is a rocky promontory at the village of St. Abbs, Berwickshire, Scottish Borders, and a National Nature Reserve administered by the National Trust of Scotland...
(1862) - Butt of LewisButt of LewisThe Butt of Lewis is the most northerly point of the Isle of Lewis in the Outer Hebrides. The headland, which lies in the North Atlantic, is frequently battered by heavy swells and storms.-Lighthouse:...
(1862) - Holborn Head (1862)
- Monach IslandsMonach IslandsNot to be confused with Heysker/Hyskeir or HaskeirThe Monach Islands, also known as Heisker , are an island group west of North Uist in the Outer Hebrides of Scotland...
(1864) - Skervuile (1865)
- AuskerryAuskerryAuskerry is a small island in eastern Orkney, Scotland. It lies in the North Sea south of Stronsay and has a lighthouse, completed in 1866.-Description:...
(1866) - Lochindaal (1869)
- Scurdie NessScurdie NessScurdie Ness is a headland located on the South side of the River South Esk estuary, Montrose, Angus, Scotland. The River leads from the North Sea into Montrose Harbour and then into Montrose Basin. The headland has also been referred to as Scurdy Ness, Montrose point or Montroseness...
(1870) - Stour Head (1870)
- Dubh ArtachDubh ArtachDubh Artach is a remote skerry of basalt rock off the west coast of Scotland lying west of Colonsay and south-west of the Ross of Mull.A lighthouse designed by Thomas Stevenson with a tower height of was erected between 1867 and 1872 with a shore station constructed on the isle of Erraid...
(1872) - TurnberryTurnberryTurnberry is a golf resort on the coast of the outer Firth of Clyde in southwestern Scotland. Located in South Ayrshire on the rugged coast, it comprises three links golf courses, a golf academy, a five-star hotel, designed by James Miller and completed in 1906, as well as lodge and cottage...
(1873) - Chicken RockChicken RockChicken Rock is the southernmost island administered by the Isle of Man and belongs to the parish of Rushen. It lies to the southwest of the Calf of Man south-west of Spanish Head on the Manx mainland ....
(1875) - LindisfarneLindisfarneLindisfarne is a tidal island off the north-east coast of England. It is also known as Holy Island and constitutes a civil parish in Northumberland...
(1877, 1880)
External links
- Eilean Bàn – Kyleakin Lighthouse
- Life of Robert Stevenson: Civil Engineer (1878), by David Stevenson. From Internet ArchiveInternet ArchiveThe Internet Archive is a non-profit digital library with the stated mission of "universal access to all knowledge". It offers permanent storage and access to collections of digitized materials, including websites, music, moving images, and nearly 3 million public domain books. The Internet Archive...
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