Engineer. He invented the process of preserving food in tinned iron can, and he built the “Difference Engine”, the world’s first computer, which was designed by Charles Babbage. He began his career as land agent to the Duke of Dorset, before becoming an apprentice engineer with John Hall of Dartford, Kent. He then started his own business, initially making moulds for the paper making industry. Between 1801 and 1802 he was commissioned to build the prototype of the Fourdrinier paper making machine, which he perfected in 1804. In 1813 he patented a "polygonal printing machine", but this proved to be too complicated and was not a success. He then became a partner in John Hall's company, and together they founded the world's first tinned iron food canning factory, providing canned food to the British Admiralty. In 1857 he was responsible for building Charles Babbage's difference engine, the world's first computer, but the difficulty in creating the intricate components led to him making a personal loss of £615. From 1825 until 1827 he worked with Marc Brunel on the first tunnel under the River Thames. He went on to develop a new printing method that was used by the Excise and Stamp Office to prevent the forgery of excise stamps. From 1847 he worked on valves for use in the gas industry, and his company, Bryan Donkin Gas Controls Limited, is still trading. He was a member of the Royal Society of Arts, and a founder member of the Institution of Civil Engineers and the Royal Astronomical Society. The difference engine is on display at the Science Museum, London.
Engineer. He invented the process of preserving food in tinned iron can, and he built the “Difference Engine”, the world’s first computer, which was designed by Charles Babbage. He began his career as land agent to the Duke of Dorset, before becoming an apprentice engineer with John Hall of Dartford, Kent. He then started his own business, initially making moulds for the paper making industry. Between 1801 and 1802 he was commissioned to build the prototype of the Fourdrinier paper making machine, which he perfected in 1804. In 1813 he patented a "polygonal printing machine", but this proved to be too complicated and was not a success. He then became a partner in John Hall's company, and together they founded the world's first tinned iron food canning factory, providing canned food to the British Admiralty. In 1857 he was responsible for building Charles Babbage's difference engine, the world's first computer, but the difficulty in creating the intricate components led to him making a personal loss of £615. From 1825 until 1827 he worked with Marc Brunel on the first tunnel under the River Thames. He went on to develop a new printing method that was used by the Excise and Stamp Office to prevent the forgery of excise stamps. From 1847 he worked on valves for use in the gas industry, and his company, Bryan Donkin Gas Controls Limited, is still trading. He was a member of the Royal Society of Arts, and a founder member of the Institution of Civil Engineers and the Royal Astronomical Society. The difference engine is on display at the Science Museum, London.
Bio by: js
Gravesite Details
Originally buried in St Christopher le Stocks Churchyard, now defunct. Reinterred in 1867 to Nunhead Cemetery.
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