David Alan Stevenson
British lighthouse builder
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The basics
Quick Facts
| Intro | British lighthouse builder | ||||
| Places | United Kingdom Great Britain | ||||
| was | Engineer Civil engineer | ||||
| Work field | Engineering | ||||
| Gender |
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| Birth | 1 January 1854, Edinburgh, City of Edinburgh, Scotland, United Kingdom | ||||
| Death | 1 January 1938 (aged 84 years) | ||||
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The details
Biography
David Alan Stevenson FRSE MIME FRSSA MICE (1854 in Edinburgh – 1938) was a lighthouse engineer who built twenty six lighthouses in and around Scotland.
Biography
He was born on 21 July 1854 the son of David Stevenson and his wife, Elizabeth Mackay. His early years were spent at their home at 8 Forth Street in the eastern section of the New Town in Edinburgh.
He was part of the famous Stevenson family of lighthouse engineers, including brother Charles Stevenson, uncle Thomas Stevenson, and grandfather Robert Stevenson. His cousin was the author Robert Louis Stevenson.
Stevenson was educated at Edinburgh Academy (1865-70) and the University of Edinburgh.
In 1882 he married Miss Roberts. The family resided in Edinburgh. Their daughter Dorothy Emily was born in 1892; she became a best-selling author of more than 40 books published under the name D. E. Stevenson. A commemorative plaque marks the house.
Stevenson died at his home, "Troqueer", in the Kingsknowe area of Edinburgh on 11 April 1938. He is buried in Dean Cemetery.
Works
Career
In 1884 Stevenson was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh. His proposers were William Swan, Peter Guthrie Tait, Robert Mackay Smith, and George Chrystal.
Between 1885 and 1886 he built three lighthouses with his uncle Thomas, and over the following 50 years, built a further 23 with his brother Charles.
From 1904 he was assisted by John Davidson Gardner who became his Chief assistant in 1911.
He retired aged 83 in March 1938.
Lighthouses of David A Stevenson
Stevenson worked on 26 lighthouses during his career. Among them are:
- Fidra (1885)
- Oxcar (1886)
- Ailsa Craig (1886)
- Skroo, Fair Isle (1892)
- Helliar Holm (1893)
- Sule Skerry (1895)
- Rattray Head (1895)
- Stroma (1896)
- Tod Head (1897): Catterline, Aberdeenshire, Scotland
- Noup Head (1898)
- Flannan Isles (1899)
- Tiumpan Head (1900)
- Killantringan (1900)
- Barns Ness (1901)
- Hoxa Head (1901)
- Bass Rock (1903)
- Hyskeir (1904)
- Trodday (1908)
- Neist Point (1909)
- Rubh Re (1912)
- Milaid Point (1912)
- Maughold Head (1914)
- Copinsay (1915)
- Clyth Ness (1916)
- Duncansby Head (1924)
- Ardtornish (1927)
- Esha Ness (1929)
- Tor Ness (1937)