Robert William Mylne
Encyclopedia
Robert William Mylne, FRS
(14 June 1817 – 2 July 1890) was a British architect
, civil engineer
and geologist
.
He was born in Great Amwell
, Hertfordshire
, the son of William Chadwell Mylne
(1781–1863) and grandson of Robert Mylne
(1733–1811), both of whom were chief engineers of the New River Company
.
Robert William himself also practiced as an architect and engineer. In 1836 he worked on designing new docks at Sunderland, and he travelled to Italy and Sicily in the early 1840s. He acted as his father's assistant for twenty years, becoming an authority on water supply. He was later appointed Engineer to the Limerick
Water Company, and provided a fresh-water supply for one of the Spithead
forts.
He wrote a number of books, primarily on the subject of the geology of London
, as well as producing several geological maps of the area. His 1856 "Map of the Geology and Contours of London and its Environs", produced at a scale of 4 miles to 1 inch, was the first comprehensive geological map of London. In 1859 he was one of a party of eminent scientists, including Joseph Prestwich
, Sir John Evans
, Hugh Falconer
, Godwin-Austen and John W. Flower, who investigated the discovery of ancient human remains in the Somme valley, establishing the antiquity of man.
He was an associate of the Institute of British Architects
from 1839, and a member of the Geological Society from 1848, and of the Smeatonian Society of Civil Engineers
. In 1860 he was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society. His candidature citation read:
He died at Home Lodge in Great Amwell in 1890. He had married in 1852 Hannah, the daughter of George Scott.
Royal Society
The Royal Society of London for Improving Natural Knowledge, known simply as the Royal Society, is a learned society for science, and is possibly the oldest such society in existence. Founded in November 1660, it was granted a Royal Charter by King Charles II as the "Royal Society of London"...
(14 June 1817 – 2 July 1890) was a British architect
Architect
An architect is a person trained in the planning, design and oversight of the construction of buildings. To practice architecture means to offer or render services in connection with the design and construction of a building, or group of buildings and the space within the site surrounding the...
, civil engineer
Civil engineer
A civil engineer is a person who practices civil engineering; the application of planning, designing, constructing, maintaining, and operating infrastructures while protecting the public and environmental health, as well as improving existing infrastructures that have been neglected.Originally, a...
and geologist
Geologist
A geologist is a scientist who studies the solid and liquid matter that constitutes the Earth as well as the processes and history that has shaped it. Geologists usually engage in studying geology. Geologists, studying more of an applied science than a theoretical one, must approach Geology using...
.
He was born in Great Amwell
Amwell, Hertfordshire
Amwell , is a village in the county of Hertfordshire, England, located 1½ miles from Ware, and about 20 miles north of London. Great Amwell is also the name of the civil parish within East Hertfordshire district....
, Hertfordshire
Hertfordshire
Hertfordshire is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan county in the East region of England. The county town is Hertford.The county is one of the Home Counties and lies inland, bordered by Greater London , Buckinghamshire , Bedfordshire , Cambridgeshire and...
, the son of William Chadwell Mylne
William Chadwell Mylne
William Chadwell Mylne, FRS was a British engineer and architect.He was descended from a Scottish family of masons and architects, and was the second son of Robert Mylne , surveyor to the New River Company, and builder of the first Blackfriars Bridge in London.Initially, William's elder brother...
(1781–1863) and grandson of Robert Mylne
Robert Mylne
Robert Mylne was a Scottish architect and civil engineer, particularly remembered for his design for Blackfriars Bridge in London. Born and raised in Edinburgh, he travelled to Europe as a young man, studying architecture in Rome under Piranesi...
(1733–1811), both of whom were chief engineers of the New River Company
New River (England)
The New River is an artificial waterway in England, opened in 1613 to supply London with fresh drinking water taken from the River Lea and from Amwell Springs , and other springs and wells along its course....
.
Robert William himself also practiced as an architect and engineer. In 1836 he worked on designing new docks at Sunderland, and he travelled to Italy and Sicily in the early 1840s. He acted as his father's assistant for twenty years, becoming an authority on water supply. He was later appointed Engineer to the Limerick
Limerick
Limerick is the third largest city in the Republic of Ireland, and the principal city of County Limerick and Ireland's Mid-West Region. It is the fifth most populous city in all of Ireland. When taking the extra-municipal suburbs into account, Limerick is the third largest conurbation in the...
Water Company, and provided a fresh-water supply for one of the Spithead
Spithead
Spithead is an area of the Solent and a roadstead off Gilkicker Point in Hampshire, England. It is protected from all winds, except those from the southeast...
forts.
He wrote a number of books, primarily on the subject of the geology of London
Geology of London
The geology of London comprises various differing layers of sedimentary rock upon which London, England is built.-Oldest rocks:The oldest rocks proved through boreholes to exist below London are the old, hard rocks of the Palaeozoic. These consist of Silurian mudstones and sandstones, generally...
, as well as producing several geological maps of the area. His 1856 "Map of the Geology and Contours of London and its Environs", produced at a scale of 4 miles to 1 inch, was the first comprehensive geological map of London. In 1859 he was one of a party of eminent scientists, including Joseph Prestwich
Joseph Prestwich
Sir Joseph Prestwich FRS, was a British geologist and businessman, known as an expert on the Tertiary Period and for having confirmed the findings of Boucher de Perthes of ancient flint tools in the Somme valley gravel beds....
, Sir John Evans
John Evans (archaeologist)
Sir John Evans, KCB, FRS was an English archaeologist and geologist.-Biography:John Evans was the son of the Rev. Dr A. B. Evans, headmaster of Market Bosworth Grammar School, and was born at Britwell Court, Buckinghamshire...
, Hugh Falconer
Hugh Falconer
Hugh Falconer MD FRS was a Scottish geologist, botanist, palaeontologist and paleoanthropologist. He studied the flora, fauna and geology of India, Assam and Burma, and was the first to suggest the modern evolutionary theory of punctuated equilibrium...
, Godwin-Austen and John W. Flower, who investigated the discovery of ancient human remains in the Somme valley, establishing the antiquity of man.
He was an associate of the Institute of British Architects
Royal Institute of British Architects
The Royal Institute of British Architects is a professional body for architects primarily in the United Kingdom, but also internationally.-History:...
from 1839, and a member of the Geological Society from 1848, and of the Smeatonian Society of Civil Engineers
Smeatonian Society of Civil Engineers
The Smeatonian Society of Civil Engineers was founded in 1771, and was originally known as the Society of Civil Engineers, being renamed following its founder's death...
. In 1860 he was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society. His candidature citation read:
He died at Home Lodge in Great Amwell in 1890. He had married in 1852 Hannah, the daughter of George Scott.
Publications
- "On the supply of Water from Artesian Wells in the London Basin", 1840
- "Account of the Ancient Basilica of San Clemente in Rome", 1845
- "Sections of the London Strata", 1850
- "Topographical Map of London and its Environs", 1851 and 1855
- "Map of the Geology and Contours of London and its Environs", 1856
- "Map of London, Geological - Waterworks and Sewers", 1858