James Deas (engineer)

James Deas (1827-1899) was a 19th-century Scottish harbour engineer.

James Deas by James Pittendrigh Macgillivray
Govan graving dock)
The grave of James Deas, Glasgow Necropolis

Life

He was born on 30 October 1827 in Edinburgh the son of James Deas (1794-1856) from Leslie in Fife and his wife, Elizabeth Cairns. From 1841 he was apprenticed to the civil engineer, John Miller, at 1 Brandfield Place.[1]

By 1851 he was living with his parents at High Cample village in Dumfriesshire. His father, also a railway engineer, had remarried by this stage. There were nine children in the family, presumably from both wives. Soon after James junior became Chief Engineer to the Edinburgh and Glasgow Railway Company. In 1860, aged only 42, he was appointed Chief Engineer to the Clyde Navigation Trust in succession to John Ure. He remained in this role for 30 years, during the golden days of Clyde shipbuilding.[2] Under his control the area of the docks was greatly increased and the depth of the River Clyde was increased by 2m for a length of 25km.[3]

James died of a heart attack on 29 December 1899 whilst eating lunch at Daniel Brown’s Restaurant at 79 St Vincent Street in Glasgow.[4] He is buried in one of the north-south rows on the upper section of the Glasgow Necropolis. [5] His grave was sculpted by John Mossman.

Principal Works

See[6]

  • Govan Graving Docks (1869 and 1883)
  • Windmillcroft Quay (1877)
  • Princes Dock (1887)

Family

James was married to Isabella Orr (1839-1920).

gollark: Sinnerscale.
gollark: Plus Invisiprizes, with translucent sprites and the egg description of "It looks metallic, somehow, whilst also being near-invisible".
gollark: Or tinsoils, I guess.
gollark: Simmermails and Tinfoils.
gollark: `Pruze Dwaggon (Wostorn)`

References
  1. Edinburgh and Leith Post Office Directory 1841-42
  2. http://www.gracesguide.co.uk/James_Deas
  3. Glasgow Herald: obituary 30 December 1899
  4. Glasgow Post Office Directory 1899-1900
  5. https://billiongraves.com/grave/James-Deas/17871001#/
  6. http://www.scottisharchitects.org.uk/architect_full.php?id=200882
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