Engineering and Technology

Robinson, William (1840–1921), inventor and engineer, was born 22 November 1840 at Coalisland, Co. Tyrone. His family emigrated to America when he was four, and settled at Brooklyn, New York. Educated locally, Robinson entered Wesleyan University, Middletown, Connecticut, where he…

Ronayne, Joseph Philip (1822–76), civil engineer and politician, was born at Mount Verdun, Cork, youngest son of Edward Ronayne, glassmaker, and his wife Margaret, daughter of John Meany of Dorrickmore, Co. Cork. He was educated in Cork at the school of Hamblin and Porter; then…

Sanders, Terence Robert Beaumont (1901–85), Olympic oarsman, engineer, and armaments expert, was born 2 June 1901 in Sanders Park, Charleville, Co. Cork, younger of two sons of Robert Massy Dawson Sanders of Charleville, Co. Cork, landowner, qualified mining engineer, and…

Sankey, Sir Richard Hieram (1829–1908), military engineer and chairman of the Irish board of works (1884–96), was born 22 March 1829 at Rockwell Castle, Cashel, Co. Tipperary, fourth son of Matthew Sankey, JP and barrister, of Bawnmore, Co.…

Semple, George (c.1700–82), architect, engineer, and building contractor, was born in Dublin, son of a workman; nothing more is known of his family background. Admitted a freeman of the city of Dublin (1735), he served an apprenticeship as a bricklayer; his earliest known work…

Sisk, John Gerard (1911–2001), civil engineer and businessman, was born 18 January 1911 in Cork, second son among two sons and one daughter of John Valentine Sisk (1868–1955), head of the family building firm, and his wife Mary Josephine, daughter of Patrick Harty,…

Smith, Henry George (‘Harry’) Tyrell- (1907–82), motorcycle racer and development engineer, was born 3 May 1907 in Frescati, Blackrock, Co. Dublin, son of Henry ‘Harry’ Tyrell-Smith, originally from South Africa, and Irma Tyrell-Smith (née Hayes) from Dublin. Although Tyrell-Smith's…

Smith, John Chaloner (1827–95), railway engineer, was born 19 August 1827 in Dublin, eldest son of John Smith of Dublin, proctor of the Irish ecclesiastical courts; his mother's name is not known. He entered TCD (1 July 1844), received a…

Spring, Sir Francis Joseph (1849–1933), civil engineer, was born 20 January 1849, most likely in Magourney, Co. Cork, son of the Rev. Edward Spring, rector of Magourney; his mother's name is not known. After receiving his early education at Midleton School, Co. Cork, Spring went…

Steele, Thomas (Tom) (1788–1848), engineer and political activist, was born 3 November 1788 at Derrymore, Co. Clare, son of William Steele, gentleman, and Catherine Steele (née Bridgeman). In July 1805 he entered TCD, graduating…

Stephens, William Henry (‘Bill’) (1913–2001), aeronautical engineer and civil servant, was born 18 March 1913 in Kilkenny, son of William Henry Stephens of 14 Achill Road, Drumcondra, Dublin, civil servant, and Helena Stephens (née Reid Cantley). Always known as ‘Bill Stephens’, he…

Stevenson, John (1850–1931), printer, inventor, antiquary, and author, was born in Rostrevor, Co. Down, in 1850, eldest among three to five sons of John Stevenson (d. 1881) and Harriet Stevenson (née Walsh; d. 1891). One brother died in childhood and one as a young man; there may…

Stoney, Bindon Blood (1828–1909), civil engineer, was born 13 June 1828 at Oakley Park, King's Co. (Offaly), younger son of George Stoney and his wife Anne, second daughter of Bindon Blood of Cranagher and Rockforest, Co. Clare. He had one elder brother, the renowned mathematical…

Stoney, George Gerald (1863–1942), engineer and pioneer of steam turbine engines, was born 28 November 1863 in Dublin, eldest son of George Johnstone Stoney (qv), scientist and secretary of…

Symner, Miles (d. 1686), clergyman, mathematician, astronomer, and military engineer, is of unclear parentage, but considering his education at TCD, he was probably of Anglo-Irish or English descent. He entered TCD as a scholar in…

Taylor, Alexander (1746–1828), military engineer, surveyor, and cartographer, was born in Aberdeen, Scotland; his father may have been William Taylor, a surveyor at Fort George, near Inverness. Having first worked as a land surveyor in Scotland, Alexander joined the army in 1777 and…

Thompson, James (1863–1945), civil engineer, was born 22 August 1863 in Drogheda, Co. Louth, son of Thomas Thompson, supervisor, and his wife, Mary Henderson (née Logan). Moving to Cork in 1870, he was educated at Carmichael's School and at QCC…

Thomson, George (1799–1886), military and railway engineer, was born 19 September 1799 at Fairley, Aberdeenshire, Scotland, second son of George Thomson and his wife Agnes (née Dingwall). Initially educated by private tutor, he entered the East India Company's military college at…

Thomson, James (1822–92), engineer and inventor, was born 16 February 1822 at 17 College Square, east Belfast, third child and eldest son among four daughters and three sons of James Thomson (qv), of a presbyterian tenant-farming family…

Timoney, Séamus Gearóid (1926–91), engineer and university professor, was born 13 September 1926 in Galway, eldest among seven sons and three daughters of Lieutenant-colonel Séamus Timoney and Agnes (Nancy) Timoney (née Fullerton). He belonged to a devout catholic family, of whom two…

Traill, William Acheson (1844–1933), civil engineer, was born in Ballylough House, Bushmills, Co. Antrim, third son of William Traill, landed gentleman of Bushmills, and his wife Louisa, daughter of Robert Ffrench of Monivea Castle, Co. Galway. After private schooling, William A.…

Turner, Richard (c.1798–1881), ironmaster and engineer, was born in Dublin, son of Timothy Turner (d. 1822), a merchant in Clare Street, and his wife Catherine (née Sisson). His grandfather and great-grandfather were both ironsmiths named Timothy Turner, the elder of whom (…

Tyrrell, John (‘Jack’) (1905–88), naval architect, was born 16 June 1905 in Arklow, Co. Wicklow, son of Michael Tyrrell (qv), shipbuilder, and Mary Tyrrell (neé Abraham). Since at latest the 1770s, generations of Tyrrells had owned,…

Tyrrell, Michael (1869–1948), shipbuilder, was born 6 January 1869 at Arklow, Co. Wicklow, son of John Tyrrell, shipbuilder and founder (1864) of John Tyrrell & Sons Ltd, and Dorah Tyrrell (neé Murray). Since at least the 1770s the Tyrrell family had designed, built, owned, or…

Vignoles, Charles Blacker (1793–1875), civil engineer, was born 31 May 1793 at Woodbrook near Enniscorthy, Co. Wexford. Descended from a notable French huguenot family, his father, Capt. Charles Henry Vignoles, married a daughter of Dr Charles Hutton,…