John Robinson McClean

Infobox Engineer


image_width =
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name = John Robinson McClean
nationality = British
birth_date = 21 March 1813
birth_place = Belfast, Northern Ireland
death_date = Death date and age|1873|7|13|1813|3|21
death_place =
education = University of Glasgow
spouse =
parents =
children =
discipline = civil engineer
institutions = Institution of Civil Engineers (president)
practice_name = South Staffordshire Water Works Company
significant_projects = South Staffordshire Railway, Suez Canal
significant_design =
significant_advance =
significant_awards =

John Robinson McClean CB FRS (21 March 1813 – 13 July 1873), was a British civil engineer and politician.

Early life

He was born in Belfast. Educated at Belfast Academical Institution and University of Glasgow.

Engineering career

Whilst still young, he offered himself as candidate for the Office of Engineer to the Belfast Harbour Commissioners, but was refused. Upon leaving the Board Room, he said to Mr Edmund Getty, (an old family friend) “that he would let the Commissioners yet see what a man they had lost”.

With his partner, F. C. Stileman, he founded McClean & Stileman, engineering consultants of Great George St, Westminster. Some of his positions were:
*Advisor on the Suez Canal for the British Government.
*Extensive works for Emperor Napoleon in France.
*Chief Engineer of the Plymouth and Dover Harbours.
*Chairman of the Anglo-American Telegraph Company.
*Chief Engineer overseeing construction of the South Staffordshire Railway, which opened in 1849.

After an Act of Parliament was passed to allow it, he took a 25-year lease on the railway, thus becoming the first person ever to be the sole owner of a railway. With the financial backing of several businessmen, he planned and built "The South Staffordshire Water Works Company" which piped fresh water to all of the Black Country. He was also the owner, with partner Richard Chawner, of "The Cannock Chase Colliery Company".

He was President of the Institution of Civil Engineers from 1864-5.Citation | first = Garth | last = Watson| title = The Civils | publisher = London: Thomas Telford Ltd | page = 251
year = 1988 | isbn = 0-727-70392-7]

Political career

He unsuccessfully stood as a candidate for MP of Belfast in 1857, the second time he had been rejected by his native town.

He was MP for East Staffordshire from 1868 until his death in 1873.

He was also Lieutenant-Colonel of the Engineer and Railway Staff Corps, a volunteer corps whose members serve as engineering advisors to the British Army.

Later life

He died in 1873, and is buried at Kensal Green Cemetery, London.

Personal life

He was married to Anna (1813-1877)

References