John McFarlane Gray
| John McFarlane Gray | |
|---|---|
| Born |
7 April 1831 Kincardine, Scotland |
| Died | 14 January 1908 (aged 76) Edinburgh, Scotland |
| Nationality | British |
| Occupation | Engineer |
| Known for | Steam steering mechanism |
John McFarlane Gray (or J. Macfarlane Gray; 7 April 1831 – 14 January 1908) was a Scottish engineer who invented a portable steam riveting machine and a steam steering mechanism for Isambard Kingdom Brunel's famous SS Great Eastern.
John Macfarlane Gray was born on 7 April 1831 in Kincardine, Scotland. His father was a draper. McFarlane Gray had no interest in following his father's trade. He left home and moved to Edinburgh where he worked as an apprentice while studying the Hebrew and Greek languages, mathematics and mechanics. He then moved to Paisley where he worked for Mr. Blackwood, later a partner in Blackwood and Gordon. He next obtained a position with McNab's marine engineering works in Greenock. Here he worked as an engineer, and was rapidly promoted. Gray returned to Blackwood and Gordon's, which had now moved to Port Glasgow. His employers recommended him for a position as chief draftsman and manager at the George Forrester and Company engineering works in Liverpool.
About 1855 McFarlane Gray saw a large gyroscope being exhibited by Sir William Armstrong at the Newcastle Philosophical Institution, and spent some time working out exactly how it worked. He later explained the engineering principles to the officers of the Board of Trade. According to the The Nautical Magazine, "so far as we are aware, the first example of direct calculation of gyroscopic effect as an engineering quality is due to Mr. McFarlane Gray, and made in relation to strains resulting from rolling and pitching on the shafts of fly-wheels attached to marine engines.
Gray designed marine engines and various types of machinery at George Forrester's. In 1866 he patented a steam steering engine that incorporated feedback. It was first used in the SS Great Eastern, the largest and most advanced ship of the day. This brought him acclaim in the engineering world. At that time as many as a hundred men might be needed to work the steering gear in an armoured cruiser moving at full speed. Gray was asked to look into using steam power for the steering gears. The invention was first tried in March 1867. The trial was successful and the steam steering gear was generally adopted. Gray said of the steering device much later,
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