ROBERT WIGHT 1785-1870 

Robert Wight was William Symington's friend and adviser. After reading Law in Edinburgh, Robert Wight practised as a juridicial accountant in Dundas Street, Edinburgh. In that capacity, Wight was appointed as arbiter in the dispute between William Symington and James Bell, distiller, over the management of their failed Callendar colliery venture. The protracted dispute was settled in 1810. Clearly, Wight must have respected William Symington's position because he became William Symington's accountant and legal adviser and they formed an enduring friendship. Dr. Bowie recalled in his Brief Narrative" (page 28) that "Mr. Robert Wight, accountant, Edinburgh, rendered him many acts of friendship, and much valuable assistance."

Described as a tall and handsome man, [1] and designated as Robert Wight, "sometime the younger of Viewfield, Lasswade", [2] he was born on 27th July 1785 at Newbigging. He was the elder son of David Wight, a Midlothian landowner and Hannah Hall. Wight was a member of the Royal Company of Archers and a captain of the local militia, as was his father. His father had inherited considerable property from his maternal uncle, Captain Anderson Simpson, but he had a fondness for high living and wasted his fortune, leaving nothing for his son.

Robert Wight was a keen sportsman. Writing on 23 October 1809, William Symington offers Wight, on behalf of James Forbes, an invitation to hunt on the Callendar estates. On 7 November 1809 he wrote again, expressing his concern that Wight's excellent hunting dog had gone missing. [3]

Robert Wight's son John, a chartered accountant of Glasgow,  kept correspondence from William Symington to Robert Wight, some of which was published in articles in the Falkirk Herald in March 1902 and headed "William Symington and the Beginnings of Steam Navigation." These letters reveal that Wight set up a meeting with ship owners in Glasgow, seeking their support for William Symington as the "inventor" of steam navigation.

In 1814 Wight also prepared a Memorial on behalf with the trustees of the Forth ferry company, together with plans for "a new method of propulsion, by means of oars or half-paddles at the rear of the vessel." [4]  Copies of these drawings were published in the The Engineer on 4 April 1902. [5]

Wight was also instrumental in gathering material for William Symington's 1825 Petition to Parliament. On 5 December 1825, William Symington wrote to Wight to acknowledge receipt of the "parcel" of drawings and documents which were to be presented to Parliament with his Memorial and Petition.

MEETING AT THE BLACK BULL HOTEL, GLASGOW, 1814

William Symington believed Henry Bell had infringed the patent rights for his "invention" of propulsion of vessels by steam power but his action against Bell proved futile because the patent specification was defective. Despite this setback, William Symington was convinced that he had a claim for compensation. He felt steam boat proprietors would support the claim that he was the introducer of steam navigation. He also entertained the prospect of somehow extending his patent. In casual conversation, the proprietors had seemed sympathetic. William Symington wrote to Wight on 5 June 1814 asking him to set up a meeting. Wight distributed a hand bill advertising a meeting which would take place at a coaching inn, the Black Bull Hotel, in Argyle street, Glasgow. The meeting was chaired by Alexander Morrison, of Ballinakill, who would become Dean of the Faculty of Procurators. The aim of the meeting was to generate support in his quest for compensation but no support or encouragement was forthcoming.

[1] Personal correspondence from John Wight of Belfast January 1982

[2] Glasgow Herald 15 February 1870 page 5

[3] Falkirk Herald 22 March 1902 Page 3 

[4] Ibid.

[5] See also article in Cassier's Magazine Volume 32 May-October 1907 pages 536-538

In preparing the Memorial for the ferry company, Wight had sought information from Patrick Miller relating to William Symington's part in Miller's steamboat trials. Unfortunately Miller's response was demeaning: he diminished William Symington's contribution to that of a mere employee, acting in the role of a labourer or tradesman.

                                                                                                                           Dalswinton, 14th Aug. 1814.

     Sir,

     Upon the 9th I received yours of the 3d instant. Of late I have been a good deal indisposed, so much so as to make writing with my own hand disagreeable, and this is the first day I could make use of another person's.

     If you wish for correct information upon the subject of vessels being propelled through the water by means of wheels, and the steam engine, I must refer you to a Treatise upon the elevation, &c. of a triple vessel moved by wheels, with explanations of the figures, in the engravings, and a short account of the properties and advantages of the invention, written by me, which was published at Edinburgh in the year 1787. Copies of this Treatise were presented by me to the Faculty of Advocates, and also to the Universities of Edinburgh, Oxford, and Cambridge—to the Royal Society of England—to our King—to almost all the Sovereigns of Europe—and to Mr Adams, the first Ambassador from North America to our Court, for the benefit of his States. I also, us a mark of my great respect for Mr

Washington, the first President of the North American States, and for Dr Franklin, as a philosopher, and a benefactor to mankind in general, presented copies to them.

     You will find in this Treatise the following passages: -

"When the movement of the wheel comes to be aided by mechanical powers, so as to accelerate its revolutions, the before-mentioned rate of a ship's going through the water, will be in proportion to the power used."

"I have also reason to believe, that the powers of the steam engine may be applied to work the wheels, so as to give them a quicker motion, and consequently to increase that of the ship."

     I never heard of any person having used wheels, for moving vessels through the water, before I invented them; and I had used them in different vessels some years before the date of the treatise mentioned; and by means of a capstan, I gave such velocity to a double vessel, 60 feet in length, as caused that vessel, by one wheel, without having any sail set, to go round a fine sailing brig of 160 tons burthen, in a fine gale of wind with all her sails set.

     The history of my connection with Symington is this: - Mr James Taylor, an acquaintance of his (both of them from Leadhills), was tutor to two of my sons, and lived for some years in my family, —and he, knowing that I intended to employ the steam engine in propelling vessels through the water, recommended his acquaintance, Symington, as ingenious, but very poor, who he said had discovered an improvement, by a rotatory motion of the steam engine. I knew well that the wheel which I had invented could be moved by a steam engine of whatever construction; but, wishing to encourage a young man, who was said to be ingenious, and at the same time very poor, I gave him the preference, and employed him to make a small engine, to ascertain the principle upon a piece of water here; and afterwards I employed him to superintend the making of an engine of a greater size at Canon, which was done at my expence by the Carron Company, —and this engine was used on board the before-mentioned vessel of 60 feet in length, upon the great Canal between the Forth and the Clyde.

     In short, I always considered Symington in the same light I did every other labourer, or tradesman, whom I employed about the vessels mentioned; and, in my conscience, I believe he has no more right to a patent for propelling vessels by steam, than might be claimed by every person employed in making a steam engine, somewhat different from other steam engines. I never heard of his having taken out a patent for that purpose, till the other day. I know nothing, nor can I recollect any circumstance, about experiments made by the Duke of Bridgewater, Lord Stanhope, or others, till years after the printing of the treatise which I have mentioned.

     I believe that I am the only person who has a just right to take out a patent for propelling vessels through the water by means of wheels and a steam engine; but, in the numberless very expensive experiments I have made, sordid gain has not been an object with me. My ambition and wish have been to make those experiments useful to my country, and to mankind; and the more generally they are known and made use of, the happier I will be, from thinking I have contributed, in any degree, to the comfort and advantage of other men. This letter I shall probably print, that it may prove a shield to every industrious enterprising honest man, against the attacks of all such as are disposed to act unjustly. 

     I am, Sir, &c.

          (Signed)           P. MILLER.

In refutation of Henry Bell, Miller's son sent a copy of this letter to the Caledonian Mercury on 9 March 1827 with the following covering letter:

     Sir—Having lately observed an article in several of the Edinburgh Newspapers, stating it to be the intention of a gentleman of the name of Bell, to make an application to Parliament for some pecuniary grant, in consideration of the loss he sustained, and the share he had, in bringing the important invention of Steam Navigation into general use, I have to request that you will insert in your valuable journal the following extract of a letter from the late Mr Miller of Dalswinton, to Mr Wight, accountant in Edinburgh, on the subject of Steam Navigation. I consider it a duty which I owe to the memory of a much respected parent, to give as much publicity to his own statements on this subject as possible, and I know no way in which this can be more effectually accomplished than the one 1 have now been induced

to adopt. — I have the honour to be Sir, &c.

               W. MILLER,

     Late Major in the Royal Regt.

          of Horse Guards,

     Edinburgh, 9th March 1827.

1814 CONCEPT FOR A STEAM FERRY

William Symington believed that paddle wheel propulsion was unsuitable for sea-going vessels. Wight framed a Memorial, dated 25 December 1814, to the Trustees of the Kinghorn and Leith Ferry Company which explained that William Symington had paid £500 to have his invention patented but found that his patent rights were not protectable due to deficiencies in the specification and the passage of time. Plans were presented for "a new method of propulsion, by means of oars or half-paddles at the rear of the vessel." [1]

An article published in The Engineer on 4 April 1902, headed WILLIAM SYMINGTON AS A PIONEER IN STEAM NAVIGATION, mentions the letters and documents held by Robert Wight's son, and features drawings which were to be submitted to the Trustees of the Leith Ferry to illustrate "a new method of propulsion for the ferry-boat between Leith and Kinghorn."

Robert Wight, in a letter to Mr. William Berry dated from Dundas street, Edinburgh, 24th December 1814, requested that a "memorial" relating to Symington's new method be placed before the Trustees of the ferry company. In this scheme, the vessel was to be propelled by oars at the stern which were coupled by means of a crank to a steam engine.

This article in The Engineer also refers to William Symington's Petition which was presented to Treasury. Symington wrote to Wight from Falkirk on 22 November 1825 that his Petition had been prepared and that it would be presented by General Ferguson or David Gilbert Esq., or Mr. Hume. Drawings similar to those published in The Engineer had been retrieved from papers held by the late Malcolm Laing of Orkney and were attached to the Petition. 

[1] Falkirk Herald 22 March 1902

DRAWINGS TO ACCOMPANY A MEMORIAL SENT TO THE FERRY COMPANY TRUSTEES 1814

The following rough sketches, kept by Wight's son, were published with the article in The Engineer:

Two or more oars may be … applied as circumstances may require

To be moved by a Steam Engine Cylr. 20 ins. Diam stroke 30 ins long

Length over Deck of 4 feet by 20 feet Broad

N. B. The above plan takes its origin from suggestions of Lord Dundas & Thos. Bruce Esqr of Grangemuir

by Wm Symington Falkirk

Fig: 1st No. 2. Plan of a Boat with Rectangular Sculling Oars with Evolving Blades

To be Moved by a Steam Engine Cylinder 20 Ins. Diam. Stroke 30 Ins long

Fig: 2 d No. 2 Side View of a boat with Sculling oars Novr. 1814

by Wm Symington Falkirk

A View of the oar Blades in propelling position

B View of Do. in receding position

Fig: 1st No. 3 Plan of a Boat with Rectangular Sliding Sculling Oars, to be moved by a Steam Engine 

Crank 15 In. Novr. 1814

by Wm Symington, Falkirk

Crank to be moved by a Steam Engine

Fig: 2d No. 3 Side View Cylr 20 Inches 30 Ins. Stroke

AC and BD the Strong beams of the stern raised above the Deck to support the arms

EF the Axis

G The extremity of the Moving Lever morticed in the axis

GL A view of the Lever pafsing inwards to the Steam-Engine where it is put in Motion

EH and FI The oars which strike the water

oooo The flaps which open to strike the water with a flat surface, and again fall together when the oar recedes

K The helm

The first version was for a vessel measuring 74 feet by 20 feet broad, which was to be propelled by common sculling oars; the second design was for a boat with rectangular oars. The view of the stern was to indicate oars with flaps which would open on contacting the water and close on the forward stroke.

William Symington was also to attach a similar set of drawings to his 1825 Petition to Parliament. To include these sketches was an unfortunate and ill-considered afterthought. The regressive and impractical concept of oar-propelled ferries could only have detracted from the thrust of his Petitition which was aimed to establish his place as the originator of steam navigation. The reference to Thomas Bruce of Grangemuir 1764-1829 may have been designed to add a certain cachet to the Petition. Bruce was a man of some influence and he was well connected. He owned almost the whole of the parish of Anstruther Wester in Fifeshire. His father was Lord Kennet FRSE, advocate and sheriff-depute of the Shire of Stirling and Clackmannan. He was a member of the First Fife Fox-Hounds; [1] in 1811 he was captain of the St. Andrew's and Ancient Golf Club; [2] he was a member of the Caledonian Horticultural Society. [3] [4] 

Furthermore, along with Lord Dundas and the Glasgow merchant Alexander Spiers, he was a shareholder in the Forth and Clyde Navigation Company [5] and an Extraordinary Director of the Hercules Insurance Company. [6] [7] [8]

[1] Babington, Lieut. Col., Records of the Fife Fox-Hounds William Blackwood and Sons 1888 Page 18

[2] Robertson Bauchope, C., Editor, The Golfing Annual 1887-1888 Page 208

[3] The Scots Magazine 1815 Volume 77 Page 740

[4] Quarterly Journal of Agriculture 1829 Volume 1, Letter from Thomas Bruce, Pages 208-210 "On the use of nitre as manure"

[5] NRS Wills and Testaments SC20/50/4

[6] Perth Courier 14 May 1810 page 4

[7] The Scots Magazine 1815 Volume 77 Page 235

[8] Edinburgh Almanack for 1828 Page 298

MEMORIAL TO THE TRUSTEES OF THE LEITH FERRY COMPANY 1814

"Memorial for William Symington (26th Dec., 1814), engineer at Falkirk. To the Trustees, for improving the communication between Fife and Mid-Lothian by the ferries of Kinghorn and Leith.

            "The memorialist was born and brought up at Leadhills, and educated for the Church, but his propensity towards mechanical knowledge, and an early invention which he made of a steam engine, for which he procured a patent, induced him to follow the profession of an engineer.

            "At an early period of life he was employed by Mr Miller of Dalswinton to apply the power of the steam engine for the purpose of propelling boats by means of wheels or paddles. The invention of the wheels is exclusively that of Mr Miller, as is established by his publication dated in the year 1787, and which may be found in the Advocates' Library, or in that of the University of Edinburgh. And of which Mr Miller sent copies to Mr Washington, then President of the United States of North America, and to Dr Franklin, and to the greater number of European monarchs, which accounts for the steamboat being first used in America. 

            " Although Mr Miller invented the wheels or paddles described in the publication, he only hints at the probability of their being put in motion by means of the steam engine, and that in terms so brief as sufficiently to mark his diffidence on the subject, and the truth is, that without such powerful instrument, his invention could never have been of any benefit to mankind. A few years after his publication, he applied to the memorialist, who had by that time established his character as an engineer, and after examining the nature of his new invented boats, he put this question to him, whether, in the opinion of the memorialist it were practicable to apply the power of the steam engine to put the wheels in motion. This was an application of that powerful and useful machine altogether new, and considering the imperfect state to which it had then arrived, was a question of considerable difficulty.

            "The memorialist took it into consideration, and after mature reflection, advised Mr Miller of the possibility of the application, and they agreed to make the experiment, the memorialist giving his time and labour, which was all he had to give, and Mr Miller being at the expense of the materials and workmanship.

            "They made a model, and afterwards erected a steam engine upon a pretty large boat, and carried it from Grangemouth more than half-way along the canal, when part of the machinery broke, and their progress was stopped, and Mr Miller gave up the further pursuit of this subject. At the distance of some years the memorialist was again employed by Lord Dundas to renew the experiment for the benefit of the proprietors of the Forth and Clyde Canal. The steam engine formerly employed was on the old plan, and somewhat complicated, and occupied too much of the vessel, and the memorialist employed his ingenuity in the invention of a more simple steam engine, better adapted to the purpose.

            "He completely succeeded, and in place of a cylinder erected in a vertical position, with the piston-rod acting upwards, and the working beam and the other heavy and complicated apparatus of the old steam engine, he placed the cylinder in a diagonal position, making with the horizon an angle of less than forty-five degrees, and by coupling to the end of the piston-rod a crank and arm, reproduced a rotary motion without the intervention of a lever or beam, or the other apparatus connected therewith.

            "This completely answered the purpose, and by the simplest machinery that has been yet made use of, he propelled a boat from Grangemouth to Port-Dundas, and dragged two heavy laden vessels with the greatest of ease and convenience. The experiment was completed at the expense and to the satisfaction of his patron, Lord Dundas, and that nobleman proposed to the other proprietors to adopt such boats for the purpose od dragging vessels through the canal, but they alleged that the undulation of the water occasioned by the motion of the boat would injure the banks of the canal, and refused to adopt them, much to the disappointment of Lord Dundas, and more so to the memorialist.

            "The boat was allowed to lie by the side of the canal for the inspection of all who wished to see it, and Lord Dundas recommended to the memorialist to take out a patent for his invention, which he did, at the expense of £500, but, unfortunately, in place of expressing his specification in such terms as to cover the original invention, it was merely expressed so as to cover the peculiar kind of steam engine that had been invented by him, and in dispute of his patent right, a set of tradesmen in Glasgow have copied his boat, and by making a little variation in the steam engine, are at the moment drawing amongst them upwards of ten thousand pounds a year of clear profit, by plying between Glasgow and Greenock, while the memorialist has not wherewithal to supply his large family with the necessaries of life.

            "Those ignorant mechanics have induced Mr Miller of Dalswinton to come forward as their champion, and to claim the original invention, upon the ground merely of his having suggested the possibility of propelling boats by means of the steam engine, and of having employed the memorialist to carry his suggestion into effect; and the influence of Mr Miller, the wealth of the competitors, the error of his own patent rights, and the want of funds in himself, effectually deprive him of the power of supporting his pretensions.

            "His mind, however, has not yet lost its vigour, and the same ingenuity that applied the steam engine effectually to the propelling of vessels through canals and rivers and smooth water, may yet drive them through the violence of the waves, and even against the wind and tide, particularly with the assistance of the patrons to whom he has now the good fortune to communicate the invention, and he flatters himself that he may not be deprived of the honour and emolument that ought to arise ultimately from it, through the pretensions of Mr Miller, or any others, as it only consists of his own steam engine, without Mr Miller's wheels.

            "Before proceeding, however, to describe his new invention, it may be proper to state briefly the defects of the old one when employed any other where but in smooth water."

This excerpt from the memorial published in the Falkirk Herald of 22 March 1902 appears to be incomplete in that there is no elaboration on the defects of the paddle steamers then in use and there is no written description of Symington's new system which involved propulsion by a system of collapsing paddles at the stern of the vessel. His memorial was illustrated by the drawings which were reproduced in the Engineer.

1825 PETITION TO TREASURY

Wight was instrumental in gathering material for William Symington's 1825 Petition to Parliament. William Symington wrote to Wight from Falkirk on 22 November 1825, advising thet his Petition had been made out and "I mean it to be presented either by General Ferguson, or his friend David Gilbert, Esq., who is a strong ministerial member, or Mr. Hume, and seconded by Mr. Brougham. I have received all my drawings from Orkney in good condition, which had been found among the papers of the late Malcolm Laing, Esq., and brought to Edinburgh by Mr. Maconachie, Sheriff Depute of Orkney, and delivered to me here by Mr. James Blackie, manager of Calton Foundry."[1] Malcolm Laing (1763-1818) was an advocate, member of parliament for Orkney and Shelland, and a historian. How or why Laing came to be in possession of the sketches for the ferry scheme is unknown. He had a connection with Wanlockhead through his younger brother Gilbert (1769-1832) who was a partner in the mining company there.

On 5 December 1825, William wrote to Wight to acknowledge receipt of the "parcel" of drawings and documents which were to be presented to Parliament with his Memorial and Petition.

 CORRESPONDENCE IN 1827

As late as 1827 Wight was still providing support for his old friend. William Symington wrote to Wight to reaffirm that he had not given up in his quest for recognition and remuneration. Wight responded by writing to the editor of the Caledonian Mercury to reiterate that William Symington was still pursuing his claim:

Caledonian Mercury 9 April 1827

TO THE EDITOR OF THE CALEDONIAN MERCURY.

               Edinburgh, 25, India Street, 7th April 1827.

     Sir- I observed in your paper lately, excerpts from a letter by the late Mr Millar of Dalswinton to me, for the purpose of maintaining a claim to the invention of Steam Navigation. I wrote to Mr Symington, mentioning what I had observed, and I have this day received his answer, containing the following paragraph: — 

     "I have noticed the publication made by Major Millar of his father's letter to you, in the Caledonian Mercury, and I am of opinion, as matters now stand, the following remark at present will suffice to be published, a copy of which is here subjoined; and if it did not put you to too much trouble, it would be obliging if you would  have the goodness to cause it to appear in the Caledonian Mercury at their earliest conveniency."

     I subjoin a copy of the letter referred to by Mr Symington, and hope you will insert it in the Mercury, that Mr Millar and his friends may not be led to flatter themselves that Mr Symington has given up his claim to a participation, if not to the principal share of the invention of Steam Navigation. You have his own letter, as sent to me, and you can

make such corrections in the style as you may think proper. — I am, Sir,

          Your most obedient Servant,

               ROBERT WIGHT.

(LETTER ALLUDED TO.)

To the Editor of the Caledonian Mercury.

                  Falkirk, 26th March 1827.

Sir,

     Having read in your Mercury of the 15th current, a letter to you by W. Millar, late Major in the Royal Regiment of Horse Guards, accompanied by an extract of a letter said to be from the late Mr Millar of Dalswinton, dated 14th August 1814, to Mr Wight, Accountant in Edinburgh, in which he claims the invention of Steam Navigation, I hope you will also oblige me by inserting in your respectable paper, the following short notice, intended for those individuals who feel interested in this useful and important invention, viz. Steam Navigation.

It is not my intention at present to indulge in making remarks on the contents of Mr Millar of Dalswinton's letter. The discerning public will judge for themselves, after they see statements  I intend to publish in a few months hence, when a true account of the whole, and my connection regarding the invention of Steam Navigation, corroborated by an exhibition of the original drawings, with the testimonies of several gentlemen and respectable tradesmen, who were employed by me in making various experiments upon it, in the year 1788 and 9, also in 1801, 2, and 3, will be laid before them.—I am, Sir,

          Your most obedient humble Servant

               (Signed) WM. SYMINGTON.

Subsequent to his 1825 Petitition to Treasury, William Symington continued to gather evidence supporting his claim. In 1827 he obtained a further affidavit from Alexander Sclanders, a boat builder, who was at the helm in the March 1803 trial of the Charlotte Dundas. In 1828 he prepared drawings to represent his experiments for Miller and Dundas. Those drawings were taken to Australia by his son in 1855. William Symington died in 1831. His son in law Dr. Robert Bowie pursued his cause in publishing his "Brief Narrative" in 1833.

Robert Wight's sons, John, Edward and George, became partners in the accountancy firm, Wight, Wight & Co. of Hope Street, Glasgow. [2] Robert Wight died from "debility" on 13th February 1870 at 140 Main Street, Glasgow.

[1] The Engineer 4 April 1902

[2] Personal correspondence from John Wight of Belfast January 1982