James Nasmyth, Engineer

James Hall Nasmyth was a Scottish engineer, philosopher, artist, and inventor who is best known for developing the steam hammer. He was a co-founder of Nasmyth, Gaskell and Company, which manufactured machine tools. He retired at the age of 48 and relocated to Penshurst, Kent, where he pursued his passions of astronomy and photography. Nasmyth was born at 47 York Place in Edinburgh, where his father, Alexander Nasmyth, painted landscapes and portraits. Alexander's hobby was mechanics, and he spent almost all of his free time in his workshop, where he encouraged his youngest son to work alongside him on various materials. From 1821 until 1826, Nasmyth attended the Edinburgh School of Arts (now Heriot-Watt University), making him one of the institution's inaugural students. In 1828, he created a complete steam carriage capable of traveling a mile with eight passengers. This feat fueled his desire to be a mechanical engineer. He had heard about Henry Maudslay's business and resolved to work there; but, his father could not afford to hire him as an apprentice. Nasmyth intended to demonstrate his abilities to Maudslay by building a complete functional model of a high-pressure steam engine, with the working plans and components.