Francis Baird
Encyclopedia
Francis Baird was an engineer of Scottish
ancestry in St. Petersburg, who took over his father's flourishing business manufacturing machinery, ships, and metalwork for some of the city's major structures.
He was born on 16 February 1802, one of Charles Baird
's three sons, and the only one to live beyond his thirties. He joined his father's company in St. Petersburg at the age of 17 and also went to Edinburgh University.
In 1823 he was elected to the Institution of Civil Engineers
, one of its earliest members.
He married Dorothea Halliday in 1828 and they had ten children.
Some of the time he worked with his cousin William Handyside
, who had a leading role in several engineering projects, and it is not entirely clear how much he helped Handyside with the specialist castings for the Alexander Column
and St. Isaac's Cathedral. The cathedral work continued under Francis Baird's supervision when Handyside left Russia after Charles Baird died in 1843. At this time, Francis took over the Baird Works and the rest of his father's business. The decorative railings on the Nicholas Bridge (opened 1850) were produced by Baird's while he was in charge.
In 1860 the Baird Works were flourishing with between 1200 and 1500 employees, and were producing half a million roubles
worth of goods per year. Francis Baird died on 25 March 1864, having received many Imperial
honours. A memoir of his life and his father's was published after his death.
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...
ancestry in St. Petersburg, who took over his father's flourishing business manufacturing machinery, ships, and metalwork for some of the city's major structures.
He was born on 16 February 1802, one of Charles Baird
Charles Baird (engineer)
Charles Baird was a Scottish engineer who played an important part in the industrial and business life of 19th century St. Petersburg...
's three sons, and the only one to live beyond his thirties. He joined his father's company in St. Petersburg at the age of 17 and also went to Edinburgh University.
In 1823 he was elected to 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...
, one of its earliest members.
He married Dorothea Halliday in 1828 and they had ten children.
Some of the time he worked with his cousin William Handyside
William Handyside
William Handyside was a Scottish engineer who was involved in several important construction projects in St. Petersburg.-Biography:...
, who had a leading role in several engineering projects, and it is not entirely clear how much he helped Handyside with the specialist castings for the Alexander Column
Alexander Column
The Alexander Column also known as Alexandrian Column , is the focal point of Palace Square in Saint Petersburg, Russia. The monument was erected after the Russian victory in the war with Napoleon's France...
and St. Isaac's Cathedral. The cathedral work continued under Francis Baird's supervision when Handyside left Russia after Charles Baird died in 1843. At this time, Francis took over the Baird Works and the rest of his father's business. The decorative railings on the Nicholas Bridge (opened 1850) were produced by Baird's while he was in charge.
In 1860 the Baird Works were flourishing with between 1200 and 1500 employees, and were producing half a million roubles
Russian ruble
The ruble or rouble is the currency of the Russian Federation and the two partially recognized republics of Abkhazia and South Ossetia. Formerly, the ruble was also the currency of the Russian Empire and the Soviet Union prior to their breakups. Belarus and Transnistria also use currencies with...
worth of goods per year. Francis Baird died on 25 March 1864, having received many Imperial
Russian Empire
The Russian Empire was a state that existed from 1721 until the Russian Revolution of 1917. It was the successor to the Tsardom of Russia and the predecessor of the Soviet Union...
honours. A memoir of his life and his father's was published after his death.
Reading
- A. Kempton, Robert William Rennison, T. Cox, Biographical Dictionary of Civil Engineers in Great Britain and Ireland, Vol 1 (London 2002)
- James Nasmyth, Autobiography (1885)
- Memoir of the late Charles Baird, esq., of St Petersburg, and of his son, the late Francis Baird, esq., of St. Petersburg and 4, Queens Gate, London (London, 1867)
- Russian Iron Bridges to 1850 (Newcomen Society 1982)