James Nasmyth: Engineer; an autobiography
Book Author James Nasmyth
DescriptionPREFACE. I HAVE had much pleasure in editing the following Memoir of my friend Mr. N asmyth. Some twenty years since (in April 1863), when I applied to him for information respecting his mechanical inventions, he replied: "My life presents no striking or remarkable incidents, and would, I fear, prove but a tame narrative. The sphere to which my endeavours have been confined has been of a comparatively quiet ord~r; but, vanity apart, I hope I have been able to leave a few marks of my existence behind me in the shape of useful contrivances, which are in many ways helping on great works of industry." Mr. Nasmyth, nevertheless, kindly furnished me with information respecting himself, as well as his former master and instructor, Henry Maudslay, of London, for the purpose of being inserted in Industrial Biography, or Ironworkers and Toolmake;rs, which was published at the end of 1863. He was of opinion that the outline of his life there presented was sufficiently descript