Ralph Dodd

Ralph Dodd
Born 1756
South or North Shields[1]
Died 11 April 1822[1]
Cheltenham[1]
Nationality British
Education Royal Academy for five years
Spouse Fanny Lambert
Children George Dodd
Barrodall Dodd
One more son & one daughter
Parents Alexander Dodd
Work
Significant projects London bridge
Grand Surrey Canal
Vauxhall Bridge

Ralph Dodd (c.1756—11 April 1822) was a late 18th century engineer primarily known, by his detractors, for his attempt, and ultimate failure to produce a tunnel underneath the Thames.[2]

Contents

Marine painter

Dodd has been well documented, for he was more versatile than he appears at first sight.[Note 1] In his younger days, together with his brother Robert Dodd (1748–1816), he was an accomplished marine painter.[3]

Civil engineer

Dodd had two sons, Barrodall Robert Dodd (c.1780-1837) and George Dodd (c.1783-1827); both became engineers.[4] Ralph cooperated on a huge Port of London improvement scheme together with other, more famous, civil engineers.[5]

Dodd in 1795 wrote An Account of the Principal Canals in the Known World. As a riposte, J. Whitfield wrote The Engineering Plagiarist, accusing Dodd of copying John Philips' General History of Inland Navigation, Newcastle 1792.

Death

Dodd suffered severe burns when the boiler of the paddle steamer Sovereign (80 feet long, of the River Severn Steam Yacht Co, built by H. Turner, Stourport and registered on 30 Jan. 1822, British National Archives Registration No BT/107/168) exploded at Gloucester on her trial run in December 1821. The damage sustained to the ship was so bad that she was broken up directly. He took advice to go to Cheltenham for his health and, since he was nearly penniless, he walked there in the middle of winter. He died at Cheltenham on 11 April 1822.[1][Note 2]

Writings

Notes

  1. ^ He was granted British Patent No 3141 on 3 June 1801 for a building system that was over 150 years ahead of its time.
  2. ^ Two portraits of Ralph Dodd are to be found, one, probably in his artist days, c.1780-1810 and another at the height of his engineering career, c.1815-1820.

References

  1. ^ a b c d Mike Chrimes; Ralph Dodd at the Dictionary of National Biography (subscription needed)
  2. ^ Skempton, A.W. (2002). A Biographical Dictionary of Civil Engineers in Great Britain and Ireland. Thomas Telford. pp. 184–186. ISBN 9780727729392. 
  3. ^ George W. Younger," Robert & Ralph Dodd, Marine Painters", THE MARINER'S MIRROR, Vol.10, 1924, No.3. page 243
  4. ^ J.G.James, Ralph Dodd, The Very Ingenious Schemer, Newcomen Society Papers,Vol. No 47, 1976, page 161 foll.
  5. ^ "Select Committee's Third Report", London, 28th July 1800.