Scottish Blog

1808 – 1890

James Nasmyth was a renowned Scottish inventor, primarily known for his creation of the steam hammer.

James Nasmyt was born in Edinburgh, on the 19th of August 1808. He was the son of Alexander Nasmyth, a famous Scottish painter. Because of his privileged lifestyle, James Nasmyth was sent to the Royal High School for his early education. As a hobby of both him and his father, James Nasmyth was encouraged to practise mechanics in his time of in his father’s workshop. Combining this with access to an iron foundry owned the family of his friend, Jemmy Patterson, James Nasmyth had a strong founding in his future career as an engineer and inventor.

By 1820 James Nasmyth had left school to practice mechanics in his father’s workshop. By the age of seventeen he had created a fully functional steam engine. In 1829, nearly nine years after the creation of his first steam engine, James Nasmyth had refined his designs and hand built a fully working steam powered engine that was capable of carrying passengers. He took his design to London and sought employment in the Henry Maudslay workshop. He received a position, but lost it two years later after the death of Henry Madslay. By 1836, James Nasmyth had settled in Lancashire and was involved in the creation of the Bridgewater Foundry. He was involved in a number of further iron foundries.

The real fame of James Nasmyth began to brew before 1840, when he visited a number of French dock yards and introduced the idea of his steam hammer. After refining his idea in France, James Nasmyth returned to London and began the production of his hammer, which was soon to be found throughout large construction sites through out Britain.

James Nasmyth retired at the age of 48, in 1856. He spent much of his remaining life studying astronomy, primarily observing the moon through a hand built telescope of his own design. He passed away in 1890.

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