John Smeaton He pioneered the use of 'hydraulic lime' (a form of mortar that will set under water) and developed a technique involving dovetailed blocks of granite in the building of the lighthouse. His lighthouse remained in use until 1877 when the rock underlying the structure's foundations had begun to erode; it was dismantled and partially rebuilt at Plymouth Hoe where it is known as Smeaton's Tower. Deciding that he wanted to focus on the lucrative field of civil engineering, he commenced an extensive series of commissions, including: Smeaton is considered to be the first expert witness to appear in an English
Donald Mackenzie Smeaton Donald Mackenzie Smeaton Donald Mackenzie Smeaton (9 September 1848 – 19 April 1910), son of David James Smeaton, was a Scottish politician who was the Liberal MP for Stirlingshire from January 1906 until January 1910. Smeaton was educated at the Abbey Park Institution, St. Andrew's, a boarding school run by his father, at which not less than 80 young men were boarded and educated. He then attended the University of St Andrews, where he graduated with an M.A. degree. Arriving in India in 1867, Smeaton held minor appointments in the North-Western Provinces. On 5 September 1873 Smeaton married Annette Louisa