William Symington

William Symington (* October 1763 in Leadhills, Scotland, † March 22, 1831 in London) was a Scottish engineer, developer of the first practical steamboat, the Charlotte Dundas (1803 ).

Symington was the son of a mechanic in the mines of Leadhills. He should become a priest and received appropriate training in Glasgow and Edinburgh, but suggested early in the career of an engineer and built in 1785 with his brother George, a steam engine along the lines of James Watt, of which a local mine owner ( Gilbert Meason ) was so impressed that he a few months university in Edinburgh allowed Symington. In 1787 he improved Watt's steam engine and got out a patent. He also undertook experiments with steam-powered road vehicles. Soon after, he wanted to show their usefulness in a steamboat. Initial experiments on a lake at Dumfries in October 1788 showed at least the feasibility. Further attempts followed in December 1789 with a larger boat, which sailed on the Forth and Clyde canal. In 1800, the attempts by Thomas Dundas, 1st Baron Dundas, finances, who came from a wealthy Scottish family, which included the channel. After a first ship in 1801 not to the full satisfaction of the client sailed the channel, pulled in January and March 1803, the Charlotte Dundas successful two barges through the canal. However, at Symington's disappointment there was no follow-up order.

In addition to his development of a steamboat Symington also built steam engines as a pump for mines and was even in 1804, mining entrepreneur at Falkirk, but this ended with a Missverfolg followed by a long trial, which lost Symington. Symington went bankrupt and his health subsided. In 1829 he moved to his daughter to London. He died in 1831 and he is buried in St. Botulph.

In 1890, he was honored by a statue in Edinburgh.