James Rennie Barnett
{{short description|Scottish naval architect (b. 1864, d. 1965)}}{{EngvarB|date=September 2018}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2024}}
{{Infobox architect
|name = James Rennie Barnett
|nationality = British
|birth_date = 6 September 1864
|birth_place = Johnstone
|death_date = {{d-da|13 January 1965|6 September 1864}}
|death_place = Glasgow
|practice = G.L. Watson & Co.
}}
James Rennie Barnett OBE (6 September 1864 – 13 January 1965) was a Scottish naval architect.James Rennie Barnett, Birth and Death Certificates, General Register Office for Scotland.
Early life
Barnett was born in Johnstone, son of Janet Barnett and James Barnett, a bookkeeper.
Career
At age 16, Barnett became an apprentice in the drawing office of G.L. Watson & Co. and remained for seven years.RINA Membership Application, RINA Archives. During this time, Barnett completed a degree in Naval Architecture at the University of Glasgow.University of Glasgow Matriculation Slip, University of Glasgow Archives. Barnett received first prize in the Buoyancy and Stability of Ships Class. In 1896, he received the South Kensington first Class Honours Certificate and Medal for Naval Architecture. In 1888, Barnett joined William Doxford & Sons as a Draughtsman, leaving in 1889 to return to G.L. Watson & Co. as Chief Draughtsman. Barnett succeeded George Lennox Watson as Managing Partner of G.L. Watson & Co. in 1904 and retired in 1954 after more than 50 years of service.Yachting World, 23 March 1905. During his time at the firm, Barnett designed over 400 yachts, lifeboats and commercial vessels including:
- Liberty (1908)
- Sunbeam II (1929)
- Taransay (1930)
- Virginia (1930)
- ''{{ship||Nahlin|yacht|2}} (1930)
- {{ship||Mercator|ship|2}} (1932)
- Titan (1935)
- Blue Bird (1938)
- Barnett-class lifeboat
=Lifeboat design=
Barnett succeeded Watson as Consulting Naval Architect to the RNLI in 1904 and held the position until 1947. Barnett brought about many changes in lifeboat design including increased efficiency and better operational stability. Notably, he developed the world's first self-righting lifeboat and the {{sclass2|Barnett|lifeboat|1}}. His book, Modern Motor Lifeboats is considered to be the standard work on the subject.{{cite book|title=Biographical Dictionary of the History of Technology|last1=Daylan |first1=L. |last2=McNeil |first2=I. |publisher= Routledge|year=2002}}
Honours
Legacy
Barnett died in 1965 at age 100."James Rennie Barnett Obituary", Transactions of Institution of Engineers and Shipbuilders, 1965.
Selected works
Books
- Modern Motor Lifeboats, Blackie & Son Ltd, 1933.
Articles
- "Typical Forms of Racing Yachts", Transactions of the Institute of Engineers & Shipbuilders, 1900.
- "Steam Yachts: some comparisons", Transactions of the Royal Institute of Naval Architects, 1906.
- "Motor Lifeboats of the RNLI", Transactions of the Royal Institute of Naval Architects, 1910.
- "Recent Developments in Motor Lifeboats", Transactions of the Royal Institution of Naval Architects, 1922.
- "Motor Yachts", Transactions of the Institution of Engineers and Shipbuilders, 1931.
References
{{reflist}}
Bibliography
- {{cite book|title=Biographical Dictionary of the History of Technology|last1=Daylan |first1=L. |last2=McNeil |first2=I. |publisher= Routledge|year=2002}}
- {{cite book|title= Life-boat Design & Development|author= Fry, E.C. |publisher= David & Charles Press |year=1975}}
- {{cite book|title= Modern Motor Lifeboats|author= Barnett, J.R. |publisher= Blackie & Son Ltd |year=1933}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Barnett, James Rennie}}
Category:Scottish men centenarians
Category:People from Johnstone
Category:British naval architects