James Walker (engineer)
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- This article is about the Scottish engineer. For similarly-named persons, see James Walker (disambiguation).
James Walker (September 14, 1781-October 8, 1862) was an influential Scottish civil engineer of the first half of the 19th century.
Walker was born in Falkirk and was apprenticed to his uncle Ralph Walker in approximately 1800, with whom he gained experience working on the design and construction of the West India and East India Docks in London. Also in London, he worked on the Surrey Commercial Docks from about 1810 onwards, remaining as engineer to the Surrey Commercial Dock Company until his death in 1862.
An associate of Thomas Telford, he succeeded him as President of the Institution of Civil Engineers, serving from 1834 to 1845. He was also chief engineer of Trinity House, hence his considerable involvement with coastal engineering and lighthouses.
Projects included:
- Greenland Dock, London (c.1808 - c.1862)
- The Regent's Bridge (today Vauxhall Bridge), London (1816, since demolished)
- Advice on alignment of Hereford and Gloucester Canal (1838)
- Improvements to Aberdeen Harbour (1838)
- Wolf Rock beacon and lighthouse (1840 - 1862)
- Bishop Rock lighthouse (1858)
- Completion of the Caledonian Canal (1838-1848)
- Alderney breakwater, Channel Islands (1847)
- St Catherine’s Harbour, Jersey, Channel Islands
- Improvements to navigation in the River Tyne (1853-1861)
A memorial to Walker, unveiled in 1990, can be found at Greenland Dock.
