Taylor, JamesEducated at Wallacehall School, Closeburn and Edinburgh University, James TAYLOR died 1828(inventor of steam navigation) was offered a living as a minister. However his love of chemistry, mechanics and mineralogy made him seek alternative employment. He was engaged as tutor to the children of Patrick MILLER of Dalswinton and as a member of this household he very likely met Robert BURNS – a tenant at Ellisland on the Estate.
James Taylor as described by William MACCCARTER in Ayrshire (1830)
Proprietor of the extensive Pottery establishment of Cumnock, James was a man of no ordinary powers and acquirements, and had it been his fortune to be placed where he might have had full scope and employment for his genius, he would long ago held a distinguished rank among the benefactors of his country. But adverse circumstances, during the greater part of his life, shed a withering influence over all his projects: chilling his ardour, discouraging his exertions and confining his usefulness within a very narrow sphere.
He was passionately fond of philosophical pursuits, particularly geology, mineralogy, chemistry and mechanics. He had paid much attention to the steam-engine, and was the first who suggested, and (in conjunction with the late Mr. Miller of Dalswinton) carried into effect, the application of that power to the propelling of vessels. The original experiment was performed on the lake at Dalswinton in the year 1788. It was completely successful…for though on a small scale, (being a four-inch cylinder) and with a vessel not calculated for rapid motion, they went at the rate of 5 miles an hour with ease. In the following year the experiment was repeated on the Forth and Clyde canal and, as it was on a larger scale, the motion was proportionally accelerated, being nearly 7 miles an hour.
It is deeply to be regretted that Mr. Taylor was not spared some years longer, as he had projected an improvement of such vital importance to navigation as, had he lived to compete, it would have superseded the present system altogether. His long illness, however, suspended his operations, and, in consequence of the extreme caution with which he guarded hid plan, it is feared that it has for ever perished with its author, who died at his house at Cumnock, in September 1828, in the 67th year of his age. Mr. Taylor’s widow has for several years enjoyed a pension from Government, in return for the services afforded by the defunct’s ingenuity.
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