Engineering talent

“The creation of the first iron steamboat to be built on the banks of the River Tay earned James Carmichael a prominent place in the 1873 publication Dundee Celebrities of the Nineteenth Century and a worthy commemorative statue in the city along with a place in our Craigie quiz,” writes Fraser Elder.

“Two hundred years ago, Dundee housed a wealth of mechanical engineering talent. As a trained millwright in Glasgow, James and his brother Charles founded a shipyard at Seabraes in 1810 and their ultimate aim was to invent a vessel that could be operated backwards and forwards.

“This was done with a catamaran design with an engine at each hull and a huge paddle wheel in the middle. The invention was instantly approved by the Lords of the Admiralty and became public property.

“The enterprising James then turned his attention to land transport and, after an exploratory visit to George Stephenson’s Darlington works to study steam locomotion, he returned to Dundee to pioneer revolutionary rolling stock for the Dundee-newtyle Railway.

“Two steam engines, Lord Wharncliffe and the Earl of Airlie, were then to acquire fame in Scottish railway history.

“The two brothers claimed further recognition with the invention of a fan blowing machine for factory work and welding and outdated the use of old-fashioned bellows.

“James outlived Charles by 10 years and died in August 1853. The statue in his honour was unveiled in Albert Square 23 years later.”

“This photograph was taken in 1952/3 and shows my father Peter Skimming’s first harvest after buying Airdrie Farm, Anstruther, in 1952,” says Frances Black of Newburgh. “He is driving the front one (love the pipe!), Frank Rodger is driving one of the others and I’m not sure of the third driver’s name.”

This statue to James Carmichael is situated in Albert Square, Dundee. Read more about him above.