In 1845, a correspondent to the editor of the Fife Herald penned two letters relating to the introduction of steam navigation. He took issue with a move which was afoot to raise a testimonial for the late James Taylor to reward the alleged claim that Taylor was the inventor of steam navigation. The author, R.R. of Kettlebridge, reviewed the facts which confirmed William Symington's place as the true originator of applied steam navigation. R.R. reiterated the key quotation from the supplement to the Encyclopaedia Britannica on the subject, that "Mr Symington was the first person who had the merit of successfully applying the power of the steam engine to the propulsion of vessels" and, following the lead of Dr. Bowie in London, he called for a "National Symington Testimonial" to be set up. A common practise was to sign letters to the editor with a pseudonym such as "An Observer" or "A Ratepayer." R.R. was a regular contributor to the pages of the Fife Herald who wrote to the editor on a wide range of issues.
An obituary published in the Herald in 1856 identified R.R. as the late Robert Russell of Kingskettle, a construction contractor who had an interest in natural science and who developed a particular interest in improvements to steam locomotives. [1] He claimed impartiality in his first letter in which he denounces Taylor. However, his particular interest in the subject and his support for Symington may relate to the fact that his future wife was related to William Symington. Furthermore, he must have known William Symington's son Andrew who was a clockmaker in Kettle.
In 1849, Robert Russell married Margaret Williamson who was born in Wanlockhead in 1824. [2] She was a daughter of George Willliamson 1788-1852, an overseer of the mines at Leadhills, and Margaret Boe 1793-1855. [3] George Williamson was the eldest son of John Williamson, lead miner, and Margaret Symington who was William Symington's sister. That is, William Symington was Margaret Williamson's great uncle. Her elder brother, John Williamson 1817-1865, was a schoolmaster in Kettle for 21 years. He died on 14 October 1865 aged 47 years.
Robert Russell was an erudite man and his observations on the misfortunes of William Symington were well informed; in denouncing the claims of James Taylor he reiterated Dr. Bowie's call for a Symington Testimonial. Robert Russell met his premature death in Australia in 1856. He had been working on road construction in the Portland district when he died at the age of 37 from an enteric fever at the home of his brother, Peter Russell. [4]
[1] Fife Herald - Thursday 19 June 1856 Page 3
[2] Fife Herald - Thursday 15 November 1849 Page 2
[3] Jordan, B. and R., Monumental Inscriptions of the Graveyard at Meadowfoot Wanlockhead, 1999
[4] Argus (Melbourne), Tuesday 26 February 1856, page 4
TO WHOM IS THE COUNTRY INDEBTED FOR STEAM NAVIGATION?
To the Editor of the Fife Herald.
Sir, —The above is a question which has for some time back been going the round of the press. The agitation has arisen from the circumstance of an Ayrshire paper having made an appeal to the public, with the view of raising a "National Testimonial" for the late Mr James Taylor, who is alleged to have been the inventor of steam navigation. In consequence of such a proceeding, we learn that several publications have denied the claims of Taylor to such a display of national gratitude. Several of these, amongst which we may only name the London Mechanics' Magazine, even go the length of asserting, that "Taylor's pretensions have been long scouted by the engineering world. Without indulging in the keen feeling displayed on the part the partizans of either party or claimant, I hope briefly and impartially to demonstrate that no debt whatever is due on the part the nation to the family of Taylor.
The steam-boat is in point of utility inferior only to the steam-engine itself. It is no wonder, therefore, that the honour is laid claim to any individual who has the least chance of even a shadow of a shade of evidence being adduced in his support. Accordingly, forward rush the friends of Miler, A Taylor, a Fulton, and a Bell, and each is held up as a benefactor to his country and to the world. But the world refuse to give to the real benefactor that reward which such unequalled ingenuity so justly merits. Our Translantic brethren have also claimed the credit of the invention, but how far accordance with justice we will afterwards show.
Long before the invention of steam Navigation, we find an ingenious philosophical poet thus describing advantages derivable to mankind from the power of steam. He said:-
Soon shall thine arm, unconquered steam, afar Drag the slow carriage and impel the rapid car, Or, on wide waving wings expanded, bear The flying chariots through the fields of air.
Such prophetic language was afterwards often given expression to by many who were as ignorant of the varied combinations of machinery, necessary to the realization of such ideas, as Dr Darwin, whose poetry we have just now quoted. Yet there are some who have claimed to be the inventors of steam navigation merely because the idea had got possession of their brain that such a work might be accomplished. This, it must be allowed, is a very superficial foundation for any to rest their claims of ingenuity upon, yet it is often that such pretensions reap more benefit than the individual who really confers the boon on society and merits public gratitude and reward.
Steam navigation was first suggested by Jonathan Hulls in 1736, but it was found that it could never prove beneficial with the engine then in use, and, consequently, at that time the attempt proved a complete failure. The next attempt was made by Mr Symington, then residing at Leadhills, Dumfriesshire. In the year 1788, his attention was turned to this important subject, in consequence of his being employed in inventing and constructing a steam-carriage, and from drawings of it which we have been with view of, we find that the difference between it and those now in common use was very little. Having finished this design, he thought it impracticable on the common roads, and gave up the prosecution of it. Symington then took his small engine, and, under the patronage of Mr Miller of Dalswinton, had it put up in a small boat with the view of propelling it by steam, and its success was to be tested on Dalswinton Loch. It is this circumstance that has given rise to all the disputes about the claims of Taylor, Miller, and Symington. Mr Miller was the patron of Mr Symington, Mr Taylor was tutor in Mr Miller's family, and, during the time Mr S. was engaged in the erection of the machinery, both Mr. Miller and Mr Taylor were frequent visitors at the house of Miller's gardener, in a room of whose house all the machinery was built.
But I fear that I am occupying too much of your space. I hope you will give the above insertion your valuable paper, and next week I promise to finish this communication. I will endeavour to be as short with the circumstances of the case will allow:-
I remain, Sir, yours in the cause of justice, R.R.
Kettle, January 20th 1845
TO WHOM IS THE COUNTRY INDEBTED FOR STEAM NAVIGATION?
To the Editor of the Fife Herald.
Sir, —In my letter on this important subject in a late number of the Herald, I commenced to describe the circumstance which had given rise to the claims of the three individuals, Taylor, Miller, and Symington, the inventors of steam navigation. I stated that Symington had been introduced to Mr Miller of Dalswinton, by his tutor, Mr Taylor. This happened in 1786, and just at the time when Symington had invented and completed the construction of the first locomotive carriage. During the interview, Mr Miller described to Mr Symington several attempts that he had made to propel boats supplied with paddle wheels. These wheels were made to revolve, by means of a capstan, worked by manual power, but the fatigue which the men had to endure, formed an insurmountable obstacle in the way the success of this invention. It was at this time that Mr Symington suggested that instead of men, a steam-engine should be applied to turn the wheels. This conversation induced Miller to employ Mr Symington in fitting up a pleasure boat at Dalswinton, with a steam-engine; and, accordingly, Mr. Symington took the engine which he had invented for his carriage, the first double-acting one that ever was constructed, and which was afterwards secured by a patent, and having fitted it and made all the necessary arrangements, the experiment was made on Dalswinton loch, in October 1787, in presence of a great number spectators —the trial was quite successful, the boat moving at the rate of five miles an hour. [1] Mr Miller afterwards had larger vessels fitted up in the same way, to be propelled by steam, all executed Mr Symington, and the affidavits of Carron iron-work testify that they supplied all the castings—that Mr Symington furnished all the drawings to them, and that they had nothing whatever to do with Taylor. The affidavits of the working engineers, that of the gardener, in the room of whose house the machinery was built for the boat at Dalswinton, the first one propelled by steam—these, and many other affidavits, can be produced, all showing that Symington was the individual who carried the bold, the original idea into execution.
On the other hand, the Taylor party rest their claims on the evidence contained in a letter from Symington to Taylor, in 1787. The following is an extract: —" I must make some remarks on your summer's invention, which, if made to perform what its author gives it out for, will undoubtedly be one of the greatest wonders hitherto presented to the world, besides being of considerable emolument to the projector!! Great success to you, although overturning my schemes; but take care we do not come upon your back, and ran away with them by some improvement. Your brother John gives a kind of credit to your report, which, for some reasons, I did not discourage." At the period when this letter was written, Symington had his attention occupied with steam navigation, and it was it that Taylor's invention was to overturn, (if successful). This "summer's invention" of Taylor's was a pump by which water was to be forced in one direction, and the boat was to be propelled in the opposite direction, by the reaction of the water. It must, therefore, be perfectly obvious that this letter of Mr Symington's forms no ground whatever for the Taylor party to rest their claims upon, and its being the principal evidence they adduce in its support, it must go for nothing after the explanation above given.
Again, the honour of the invention is claimed by the Americans, and often is Fulton referred to as being "the illustrious inventor of the steam boat." In the month of July 1801, Fulton visited Symington, and expressed to him the great interest he felt in the success which had attended the "novel application of steam." Symington caused the engine fire of his boat, on the Forth and Clyde Canal, to be lighted up, and taking Mr Fulton on board, sailed with him from Lock No. 16 four miles westwards, and returned back to the place of starting in an hour and twenty minutes. Fulton, after examining all the machinery, took drawings of it, went over the Atlantic, and produced his first steamboat in 1807, being not less than 19 years after Symington's successful experiment on Dalswinton Loch.
Having thus far examined the question as to whom the country is indebted for steam navigation, and being most decidedly of the opinion that neither Taylor nor Fulton has any claim whatever to the honour of the invention of the wonderful appliance of steam to navigation; or, to use the words of the writer of the article on that subject in the Supplement to the Encyclopaedia Britannica, "It is indisputable, therefore, that Mr Symington was the first person who had the merit of successfully applying the power of the steam engine to the propulsion of vessels"; for further proof in support of our views, I would refer to the London Encyclopaedia, Metropolitana article, "Steam Engine"; the Encyclopaedia Metropolitana, article, "Manufactures"; the Quarterly Review, March 1830 ; the Oxford Encyclopaedia, 1828, article, " Steam Navigation," &c.
Mr Symington memorialised the Lords of the Treasury, and received the sum of £l50. On the other hand, the widow of Taylor was granted a pension of £50 per annum, besides his four sisters were presented with £50 each, and all this was done on the supposition that Taylor was the benefactor to his country. The Government, by granting these rewards, distinctly recognise the fact that a debt is owing to the individual who invented steam navigation; and as it must be admitted that Symington was the one who was justly entitled to the nation's gratitude, we would say, let a National Symington Testimonial be speedily set about. It is a stain on the national character to allow the name of such genius to sink into oblivion, and the "family to remain without the least mark of public honour or esteem."—I remain, yours in the cause of justice, R. R.
Kettle Bridge, Feb. 3, 1845.
[1] Russell was mistaken in describing the engine of the Dalswinton vessel as "double-acting"; more accurately, this was a double cylinder engine
Fife Herald Thursday 19 June 1856 Page 3
THE LATE MR ROBERT RUSSELL OF KINGSKETTLE.
It will be seen that our obituary to-day contains notice of the death of Mr Robert Russell, late of Kingskettle, which sad event took place at Portland, in Australia, on the 13th of February last, after illness of about seven weeks. The news of Mr Russell's death, which came by last mail, has cast quite a gloom over his native place, where was well known and universally respected for his many amiable and sterling qualities. Russell was brought up to his father's trade a builder and contractor, and with no greater advantages than the education communicated at a village school usually confers, by perseverance in the cultivation of a naturally shrewd and vigorous intellect, he acquired a considerable knowledge of mechanics and of physical science. His inventive powers were exercised for some years on the improvement of the steam-engine, and several important plans for increasing the power and lessening the expense of railway locomotives have been only partially completed. His Self-acting Railway Signal met the approval of not a few practical men of scientific fame, among others, Mr Johnston, editor of the Mechanics' Magazine. Several others of his inventions were proved to be of rare utility, but Mr Russell's disposition was of that retiring, unobtrusive kind, that rather than owe anything to patronage, he was content to remain in comparative obscurity, solacing himself with the simple inward satisfaction of having mastered this subject. For several years Mr Russell took a leading part local and general politics, and frequently fought the battles of reform with both tongue and pen. He was also a regular contributor to the columns of the Herald, of both local occurrences and more weighty communications on subjects of social and political interest —his pen being uniformly employed in the cause of truth —in denouncing and exposing wrong-doing, meanness, and bigotry —and in promoting the elevation of the working classes. For the last few years Mr Russell has been engaged as a Railway Contractor, both in this county and elsewhere in Scotland, and with the fond hope of employing his talents to greater advantage in wider sphere, he embarked for Australia about twenty months ago, leaving his family at home with the intention of returning in two or three years, speedily found extensive employment Melbourne, and after being there a short time, was offered the editorship of a new periodical called The Builder, to be started on the model of the London serial of that name —work for which his cultivated literary taste, well stored mind, and ready pen, peculiarly fitted him, but having attracted the notice of the corporation of Melbourne as a builder, he obtained from that body a series of important engagements for the erection of public works, &c., which prevented him from accepting the offer. His plans for a new bridge over the Yarra river, ten miles from Melbourne, were selected from among some twenty others, but the execution of the work was postponed in consequence of the commercial depression then prevalent. Mr Russell had only recently commenced a contract for a road to connect the New Township of Heywood with Portland, when he was seized with colonial fever, which ultimately assumed typhoid form, and after severe illness died the house of his brother, Mr Peter Russell, Portland, thus cut down the midst his brightest hopes and public usefulness, the early age of thirty-seven, having been exactly one year in the colony. Mr Russell has left a widow and three children Kettle Bridge to mourn his irreparable loss. It may truly be said of him that he never forgot a friend or made enemy, and even those who were opposed to him in political or parochial matters were constrained to admire the straightforwardness, firmness, and candour with which he maintained his opinions. He was a man of thorough independence of character, cool and dispassionate in council or argument; and many who were proud of his friendship, now mourn his untimely fate a foreign land. In the quiet churchyard of Portland, surrounded by strangers' dust, repose the once fertile brain, the manly heart, and all that remains of Robert Russell.
PERSONAL NOTICES RELATING TO THE FAMILY OF ROBERT RUSSELL
Fife Herald Thursday 27 June 1844 Page 2
Died, Kettle Bridge, on the 22d currrent, Robert Russell, sen., builder, much and justly lamented.
Fife Herald Thursday 15 November 1849 Page 2
At the School-house, Kingskettle, on the 13th instant, the Rev. Mr Reid, Mr Robert Russell, contractor, Kettle Bridge, to Margaret, daughter of Mr George Williamson, Wanlockhead, Dumfries-shire.
Argus (Melbourne), Tuesday 26 February 1856, Page 4
DIED. In his brother's house, in Portland, of dysentery, Mr. Robert Russell (late of Kettle, Fifeshire), of the firm of Campbell and Russell, contractors.
Brother Peter Russell.
St. Andrews Citizen Saturday 16 June 1894 Page 8
At Melville Road, Ladybank, the 13th inst., Elizabeth Nausmith Williamson, daughter of George Williamson, Wanlockhead, Dumfries shire, and sister of the late John Williamson, schoolmaster, Kingskettle.