Thomas Drummond

Infobox Person
name = Thomas Drummond


image_size = 240px
caption = c. 1838 by Henry William Pickersgill
birth_name =
birth_date = 1797
birth_place = Edinburgh
death_date = 1840
death_place =
death_cause =
resting_place = Ireland
resting_place_coordinates =
residence =
nationality =Scottish
other_names =
known_for = Cartography
Drummond lamp
education =
employer =
occupation = Civil engineer
title =
term =
predecessor =
successor =
party =
boards =
spouse = Maria Kinnaird
children = three daughters
parents =
relatives =
religion =


website =
footnotes =

Captain Thomas Drummond (10 October 1797 - 15 April 1840) was a Scottish civil engineer, born in Edinburgh. Drummond used the Drummond light which was employed in the trigonometrical survey of Great Britain and Ireland. He is sometimes mistakenly given credit for the invention of limelight, at the expense of Sir Goldsworthy Gurney. [http://www.chem.leeds.ac.uk/delights/texts/Demonstration_19.htm Limelight - Leeds University] , accessed 18 July 2008] However, it was Drummond who realised their value in surveying.

Biography

Dummond was born in October 1797, the second of three sons. [http://www.electricscotland.com/history/other/drummond_thomas.htm Significant Scots - Thomas Drummond] accessed 18 July 2008] . Despite his father dying when he was young, he credited his mother with getting him through his education at Edinburgh High School and then on to be a cadet at Woolwich Academy in 1813. He showed an early gift for mathematics. After Woolwich he was stationed in Edinburgh and was involved with public works. He was bored with this and had enrolled at Lincolns Inn when he was recruited to use his trigonometry to help conduct a survey in the Highlands.

This new work was done in the summer with the more difficult months being passed in London. Drummond took this opportunity to improve his knowledge of methematics and science. He attended lectures by Sir Michael Faraday. At these he learned of the discovery of limelight.

In 1824 Dummond was involved in a survey of Ireland and here he used the new Drummond light. He reported that the light could be observed 68 miles away and would cast a strong shadow at a distance of thirteen miles. This surveying work was in preparation for the new constituancies required by the Reform Bill. This link shows how it was possible for Drummond to be appointed secretary to Lord Spencer and due to the intercession of Lord Brougham he was given a pension of 300 pounds per annum.

In 1835 Drummond married the wealthy heiress, Maria Kinnaird, who was the adopted daughter of the critic Conversation Sharp (1759-1835). They had three children, Emily, Mary and Fanny. ['Maria Drummond - A Sketch' : written and published by Kegan Paul, 1891]

Drummond was given the post of Irish Under-Secretary, a position he held from 1835 until his death in 1840. Drummond was a supporter of the Whigs. Drummond was held in high regard by Irish, whom he treated with impartiality.1907 edition of The Nuttall Encyclopædia]

Drummond died in 1840 and was buried in Mount Jerome Cemetery, Dublin. It is generally felt that overwork and stress precipitated his premature death in 1840 after toiling unceasingly for five years as Undersecretary for Ireland.

ee also

*Timeline of hydrogen technologies

References

Further reading

*