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I went twice through the first two books of the latter before I
was twelve years old。 At this age I was sent to the Edinburgh
Academy； my eldest brother William being then a medical student
at the University。 I remained at Edinburgh two years。 My early
progress in mathematics would have been lost in the classical
training which was then insisted upon at the academy； but for my
brother who was not only a good mathematician but an excellent
mechanic。 He took care to carry on my instruction in that branch
of knowledge； as well as to teach me to make models of machines
and buildings； in which he was himself proficient。 I remember；
in one of my journeys to Edinburgh； by coach from Darlington；
that a gentleman expressed his wonder what a screw propeller
could be like； for the screw； as a method of propulsion； was then
being introduced。 I pointed out to him the patent tail of a
windmill by the roadside； and said； 〃It is just like that！〃
In 1844 my mother died； and shortly after； my brother having
become M。D。； and obtained a prize gold medal； we returned to
Scarborough。 It was intended that he should assist my father；
but he preferred going abroad for a few years。 I may mention
further； with relation to him； that after many years of
scientific research and professional practice； he died at Hong
Kong in 1858； when a public monument was erected to his memory；
in what is known as the 〃Happy Valley。〃
I remained for a short time under the tuition of my old master。
But as the time was rapidly approaching when I too must determine
what I was 〃to be〃 in life。 I had no hesitation in deciding to
be an engineer； though my father wished me to be a barrister。
But I kept constant to my resolution； and eventually he
succeeded； through his early acquaintance with George Stephenson；
in gaining for me an entrance to the engineering works of Robert
Stephenson and Co。； at Newcastle…upon…Tyne。 I started there as a
pupil on my fifteenth birthday； for an apprenticeship of five
years。 I was to spend the first four years in the various
workshops； and the last year in the drawing…office。
I was now in my element。 The working hours； it is true； were
very long；being from six in the morning until 8。15 at night；
excepting on Saturday； when we knocked off at four。 However； all
this gave me so much the more experience； and； taking advantage
of it； I found that； when I had reached the age of eighteen； I
was intrusted with the full charge of erecting one side of a
locomotive。 I had to accomplish the same amount of work as my
mate on the other side； one Murray Playfair； a powerful；
hard…working Scotchman。 My strength and endurance were sometimes
taxed to the utmost； and required the intervals of my labour to
be spent in merely eating and sleeping。
I afterwards went through the machine…shops。 I was fortunate
enough to get charge of the best screw…cutting and brass…turning
lathe in the shop； the former occupant； Jack Singleton； having
just been promoted to a foreman's berth at the Messrs。
Armstrong's factory。 He afterwards became superintendent of all
the hydraulic machinery of the Mersey Dock Trust at Liverpool。
After my four years had been completed； I went into the
drawing…office； to which I had looked forward with pleasure； and；
having before practised lineal as well as free…hand drawing； I
soon succeeded in getting good and difficult designs to work out；
and eventually finished drawings of the engines。 Indeed； on
visiting the works many years after； one of these drawings was
shown to me as a 〃specimen；〃 the person exhibiting it not knowing
that it was my own work。
In the course of my occasional visits to Scarborough； my
attention was drawn to the imperfect design of the lifeboats of
the period； the frequent shipwrecks along the coast indicating
the necessity for their improvement。 After considerable
deliberation； I matured a plan for a metal lifeboat； of a
cylindrico…conical or chrysalis form； to be propelled by a screw
at each end； turned by sixteen men inside； seated on
water…ballast tanks； sufficient room being left at the ends
inside for the accommodation of ten or twelve shipwrecked
persons； while a mate near the bow； and the captain near the
stern in charge of the rudder； were stationed in recesses in the
deck about three feet deep。 The whole apparatus was almost
cylindrical； and watertight； save in the self…acting ventilators；
which could only give access to the smallest portion of water。 I
considered that； if the lifeboat fully manned were launched into
the roughest seas； or off the deck of a vessel； it would； even if
turned on its back； immediately right itself； without any of the
crew being disturbed from their positions； to which they were to
have been strapped。
It happened that at this time （the summer of 1850） his Grace the
late Duke of Northumberland； who had always taken a deep interest
in the Lifeboat Institution； offered a prize of one hundred
guineas for the best model and design of such a craft； so I
determined to complete my plans and make a working model of my
lifeboat。 I came to the conclusion that the cylindrico…conical
form； with the frames to be carried completely round and forming
beams as well； and the two screws； one at each end； worked off
the same power； by which one or other of them would always be
immersed； were worth registering in the Patent Office。 I
therefore entered a caveat there； and continued working at my
model in the evenings。 I first made a wooden block model； on the
scale of an inch to the foot。 I had some difficulty in procuring
sheets of copper thin enough； so that the model should draw only
the correct amount of water； but at last I succeeded； through
finding the man at Newcastle who had supplied my father with
copper plates for his early road locomotive。
The model was only 32 inches in length； and 8 inches in beam； and
in order to fix all the internal fittings； of tanks； seats； crank
handles； and pulleys； I had first to fit the shell plating； and
then； by finally securing one strake of plates on； and then
another； after all inside was complete； I at last finished for
good the last outside plate。 In executing the job； my early
experience of all sorts of handiwork came serviceably to my aid。
After many a whole night's workfor the evenings alone were not
sufficient for the purposeI at length completed my model； and
triumphantly and confidently took it to sea in an open boat； and
then cast it into the waves。 The model either rode over them or
passed through them； if it was sometimes rolled over； it righted
itself at once； and resumed its proper attitude in the waters。
After a considerable trial I found scarcely a trace of water
inside。 Such as had got there was merely through the joints in
the sliding hatches； though the ventilators were free to work
during the experiments。
I completed the prescribed drawings and specifications； and