JESSOP, WILLIAM. This able engineer and excellent man was born January 12, O. S. 1745, at Plymouth dock, where he was educated. After making some progress in the classics, he acquired a perfect knowledge of the French language, and a considerable share of mathematical sci ence. lie cat y discovered a propensity to mechanical pnrsuits, and possessing a dexterity of working in wood and metals, he constructed with facility such articles as ju venile projects occasionally required ; and his family are now in possession of a tolerably good violoncello of his workmanship when a boy.
These early dispositions recommended him to the notice of Mr Smeaton, then employed in rebuilding the Eddy stone light-house, who confirmed his desire of learning the profession of a civil engineer ; and he accordingly entered regularly into Mr Smeaton's service, under articles for se ven years. This event not only afforded opportunities of employing his talents in a way suited to his natural inclina tion, but was the means of acquiring the friendship of an able and judicious man, who was well qualified to form his judgment and direct his labours.
Mr Smeaton having, after the completion of the Eddy stone light-house, full employment as a civil engineer, his pupil of course benefited by the surveying, investigating, and executing the various works comphehended in such extensive practice. The construction of mills, drainages, harbours, and bridges, and the improvement of river navi gations, (as may be seen in Mr Smeaton's reports,) during his seven years regular service, afforded an ample field for acquiring useful knowledge and practical skill. Even in canal making, the repeated surveys, discussions, and pro gressive practical operations, during the execution of the in land navigation between the rivers Forth and Clyde in Scot land, which was under Mr Smeaton's direction, enabled him to obtain, at an early period pf life, competent infor mation upon an important part of his profession, which was at that time almost new in British engineering.
The advantages which Mr Jessop thus derived from Mr Smeaton were certainly great ; yet there is reason to be lieve, that his early and constant connection with this emi nent engineer, created a degree of timidity in the exercise of his own talents ; for we have good authority for stating, that, for some years after the expiration of his articled ser vice, he was almost unwilling to undertake business on his own account. He therefore continued to live with Mr
Smeaton, and to act under his immediate direction, and, even when occasionally engaged in business for himself, he took no step without consulting his preceptor. This con duct may, no doubt, be partly attributed to his having be come necessary to Mr Smeaton, and to the uninterrupted mutual confidence and esteem which always subsisted be tween them.
In 1773, he was appointed engineer to the Aire and Cal der River navigation in Yorkshire, which, (according to a memorandum in our possession) he states as having with an income of only 50001. a year, whereas twenty-five years afterwards he left it in the receipt of 30,0001. per an num. For sevetal years the improvement of river navi gations and drainages constituted his chief employment, though he was also on several occasions consulted in re gard to bridges and harbours. In the year 1783 he was appointed engineer for directing the improvements upon the river Trent, in which capacity he continued to act du ring the rest of his life. He made several surveys and re ports for improving the rivers Severne, Mersey, and Ir well ; and also the upper part of the 'flumes.
After Mr Smeaton withdrew from business, Mr Jessop stood at the head of his profession : In the prime of life, and with a sufficient fund of knowledge and experience, his talents became eminently useful during the rapid progress which, at this time, inland navigation made in England. To enumerate the objects of his labours, from the year 1780 to 1800, could be to give a list of nearly all the im provements of this kind, which were projected and execut ed during that period : But as this would exceed our pre scribed limits, we shall here only observe, that the 'nap of the canals in the counties of Derby, Notting-ham, Leices ter, and Lincoln, were planned and executed under his di rection, as was likewise the grand junction canal which con nects the midland counties with the metropolis. Besides these, he was occasionally consulted in regard to most of the other canals which were then carrying on in other parts of the kingdom. For several years, previous to his death, he acted jointly with Mr Telford in conducting the great Caledonian canal in the north of Scotland, and that engi neer embraced every opportunity of acknowledging, in the warmest manner, the advantages and satisfaction which he derived from the able, upright, and liberal conduct of his enlightened colleague and friend.