James Renwick (physicist)
Encyclopedia
James Renwick was an English-American scientist and engineer.
He was born in Liverpool, England, on May 30, 1790. He graduated from Columbia College
in 1807. In 1820 he was appointed professor of natural philosophy
in that college, a position he held until 1854. In 1838 he was appointed by the U.S. government one of the commissioners to explore the line of the boundary, then settled by the Webster-Ashburton Treaty
, between Maine
and New Brunswick
. In addition to his collegiate duties he wrote the biographies of Robert Fulton
, David Rittenhouse
, and Count Rumford, in Sparks
's American Biography; a Memoir of DeWitt Clinton
(1834); and a Treatise on the Steam-engine (1840-41). His text-books, Outlines of Natural Philosophy (1832), and Outlines of Geology (1838), were the first works of their kind published in the United States, and, with his other educational works, have passed through numerous editions. Renwick died in 1863.
He married Margaret Brevoort, from a wealthy and socially prominent New York family. His eldest son, Henry Brevoort Renwick, was a mechanical engineer and inspector of steamboat engines. His middle son, James Renwick, Jr.
, was a noted Gothic Revival architect, designer of St. Patrick's Cathedral
in New York and the Smithsonian Castle in Washington, D.C., among many other buildings. His youngest son, Edward S. Renwick
was a mechanical engineer, inventor and patent expert.
He was born in Liverpool, England, on May 30, 1790. He graduated from Columbia College
Columbia College of Columbia University
Columbia College is the oldest undergraduate college at Columbia University, situated on the university's main campus in Morningside Heights in the borough of Manhattan in New York City. It was founded in 1754 by the Church of England as King's College, receiving a Royal Charter from King George II...
in 1807. In 1820 he was appointed professor of natural philosophy
Natural philosophy
Natural philosophy or the philosophy of nature , is a term applied to the study of nature and the physical universe that was dominant before the development of modern science...
in that college, a position he held until 1854. In 1838 he was appointed by the U.S. government one of the commissioners to explore the line of the boundary, then settled by the Webster-Ashburton Treaty
Webster-Ashburton Treaty
The Webster–Ashburton Treaty, signed August 9, 1842, was a treaty resolving several border issues between the United States and the British North American colonies...
, between Maine
Maine
Maine is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States, bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the east and south, New Hampshire to the west, and the Canadian provinces of Quebec to the northwest and New Brunswick to the northeast. Maine is both the northernmost and easternmost...
and New Brunswick
New Brunswick
New Brunswick is one of Canada's three Maritime provinces and is the only province in the federation that is constitutionally bilingual . The provincial capital is Fredericton and Saint John is the most populous city. Greater Moncton is the largest Census Metropolitan Area...
. In addition to his collegiate duties he wrote the biographies of Robert Fulton
Robert Fulton
Robert Fulton was an American engineer and inventor who is widely credited with developing the first commercially successful steamboat...
, David Rittenhouse
David Rittenhouse
David Rittenhouse was a renowned American astronomer, inventor, clockmaker, mathematician, surveyor, scientific instrument craftsman and public official...
, and Count Rumford, in Sparks
Jared Sparks
Jared Sparks was an American historian, educator, and Unitarian minister. He served as President of Harvard University from 1849 to 1853.-Biography:...
's American Biography; a Memoir of DeWitt Clinton
DeWitt Clinton
DeWitt Clinton was an early American politician and naturalist who served as United States Senator and the sixth Governor of New York. In this last capacity he was largely responsible for the construction of the Erie Canal...
(1834); and a Treatise on the Steam-engine (1840-41). His text-books, Outlines of Natural Philosophy (1832), and Outlines of Geology (1838), were the first works of their kind published in the United States, and, with his other educational works, have passed through numerous editions. Renwick died in 1863.
He married Margaret Brevoort, from a wealthy and socially prominent New York family. His eldest son, Henry Brevoort Renwick, was a mechanical engineer and inspector of steamboat engines. His middle son, James Renwick, Jr.
James Renwick, Jr.
James Renwick, Jr. , was a prominent American architect in the 19th-century. The Encyclopedia of American Architecture calls him "one of the most successful American architects of his time".-Life and work:Renwick was born into a wealthy and well-educated family...
, was a noted Gothic Revival architect, designer of St. Patrick's Cathedral
St. Patrick's Cathedral, New York
The Cathedral of St. Patrick is a decorated Neo-Gothic-style Roman Catholic cathedral church in the United States...
in New York and the Smithsonian Castle in Washington, D.C., among many other buildings. His youngest son, Edward S. Renwick
Edward S. Renwick
-Early life:He lost most of his eyesight while working as a patent examiner. He worked for a time in Wilkes-Barre as an ironmaster, but failed.-Family connections:...
was a mechanical engineer, inventor and patent expert.