Laurence Hill C.E.

From Scotland's People Old Parish Registers - Births and Baptisms

• 21 July 1816 birth or baptism of Laurence Hill, son of Laurence Hill and Barbara Hopkirk [child 3], in the parish of Glasgow

From British Newspaper Archive: Caledonian Mercury Thursday, 25 July 1816 Page 3 Births

Births: On Sunday, 21 July 1816 [current], at Dalbeath, Mrs Laurence Hill, of a son. Dalbeth House, 1920 London Road, Glasgow 55.83858, -4.18492

From MyHeritage: Isabella Hill: 1841 Scotland Census (transcription only)

6 June 1841 Census for residents of 25 Elmbank Place, now 25 Elmbank Street, Glasgow G2 4PB 55.8639806, -4.2683986, Scotland

• Isabella Hill, female, aged 25 [born about 1816], in Lanarkshire
• Laurence Hill Junior, male, aged 20 [born about 1821], in Lanarkshire; Engineer
• 2 more siblings, 3 servants

From British Newspaper Archive: Caledonian Mercury Thursday, 25 July 1816 Page 3 Weather

On Sunday, Glasgow was visited by an awful thunder storm. The clouds and sultry atmosphere in the morning indicated its approach; but, at noon, the day was remarkably fine.

At 45 minutes past two, after a dead stillness, the storm commenced with a dreadful fury, never seen in this country, even by the oldest inhabitants. It lasted about 10 minutes. The thunder was at first accompanied by rain and hail, heavy beyond description. There was great confusion in the churches, and several of the clergymen stopped their sermons, and sung a psalm, until the storm subsided. In the Barony church a momentary alarm was excited by some of the window glass being forced inwards; but in this, as in other cases, the advice of the minister banished the fears of the congregation, and the service was concluded without any other remarkable incident.

During the storm, a branch of a tree in the yard was forced into the front window of Rutherglen church, and produced great alarm; no less than 23 panes of glass were broken, and the doors were forced open by the wind. At this village the hurricane was uncommonly violent. The crop was in many places laid prostrate on the ground.

At Glasgow Field the trunk of a tree was struck, and broke completely by the lightning; and the bark was torn off several more trees on the north side of the city. The streets in Glasgow were one entire flood; and, where the declivity was considerable, the torrent moved with remarkable rapidity, laying the low parts of the town under water. On the top of the Gallowgate bridge the water was several feet deep; and the damage done to property in the shops and cellars in that part of the town is considerable. The water was likewise several feet deep in some of the cellars in Trongate Street; and even in the shops it covered the floors some inches. The pipes were in many cases incapable of receiving the water from the roofs of the houses; and the coffee room was flooded from the water entering in this way.

From MyHeritage: Laurence Hill In Ellis Island and Other New York Passenger Lists, 1820-1957

• name: Laurence Hill
• born: Circa 1816 at Scotland
• arrival: 31 August 1840 at New York, United States
• departed: Liverpool, England
• ship: George Washington
• age: 24
• nationality: Scotland
• occupation: Engineer
• line: 22

From The Glamorgan Monmouth and Brecon Gazette and Merthyr Guardian Saturday, 16 December 1843 Swansea Farmers' Club

Improvement in the Manufacture of Iron. —

An extraordinary machine has lately been introduced at the Dundyvan Iron Works, for expressing the impurities from the lumps of iron as they are taken from the puddling furnace, superseding the ordinary process of the forge hammer. It cannot be better described than as a Brobdingnagian coffee-mill; the external cylindrical case, which may be about four feet in diameter, by twenty inches high, being grooved or fluted internally, in a direction parallel to the axis. The interior cylinder, which is grooved correspondingly, and driven by powerful machinery, is about ten inches smaller in diameter, and placed so far eccentric in the case, as to admit a puddled ball of the usual size, which, after undergoing rather unceremonious treatment, something between hugging, grinding, and devouring, is dismissed in the form of a cylinder from four to five inches in diameter, ready for the rolling mill. This is an American machine, patented by Mr. Laurence Hill, and erected by Mr. McOnie, of Glasgow, and is, we are given to understand, the only one in use in the kingdom.

From "1850 03 27 Laurence Hill Married.jpg"

Marriages, Parish of Cathcart, 1850

Hill and Wardrop:

17 March: Laurence Hill, of the Parish of Bothwell, and Catharine Wardrop of this Parish, were proclaimed on 17 March 1850 - No objections.

From happyhaggis Birth, Marriage & Death notices from Scottish newspapers: March 1850

Langside Cottage, now 8 Mansionhouse Road, Shawlands, Glasgow G41 3DE 55.82667, -4.27361 At Langside Cottage, on the 27 March 1850 [instant], by the Rev. Charles Popham Miles [?], Incumbent of St Jude’s Chapel, Glasgow, Laurence Hill, junior, Esq., [married] to Catherine Wardrop, daughter of the late Alexander Wardrop, merchant, Glasgow.

From British Newspaper Archive: Glasgow Herald Friday, 29 March 1850 Page 2 Marriages

Marriages: At Langside Cottage, on Wednesday, 27 March 1850 [instant], by the Rev. Charles Popham Miles, Incumbent of St. Jude's Chapel, Glasgow, Laurence Hill, junior, Esq., to Catherine Wardrop, daughter of the late Alexander Wardrop, merchant, Glasgow.

From MyHeritage: Laurence Hill In Ellis Island and Other New York Passenger Lists, 1820-1957

• name: Laurence Hill
• gender: Male
• born: Circa 1817 at Scotland
• arrival: 6 June 1850 at New York,, United States
• departed: Liverpool, England via Halifax, Canada
• ship: Steam ship "America"
• occupation: Merchant
• been to America before: Yes
• age: 33
• line: 26

From J. Macquorn Rankine

In 1852, he [William John Macquorn Rankine], in conjunction with the late John Thomson, C.E. (son of the late Professor William Thomson of Glasgow University), engineered a water supply for Glasgow from Loch Katrine. This scheme, as Professor Rankine pointed out, was first proposed in 1845 by his friends, Mr. Lewis Gordon (whose Chair at Glasgow University he afterwards filled) and Mr. Laurence Hill, junior, C.E. [Footnote: Rankine felt very keenly that Lewis Gordon and Laurence Hill's original idea was never properly acknowledged.]

From The Clyde from the Source to the Sea

These schemes coming to nothing, a company was formed in 1845, who constructed the Gorbals works for the supply of the part of the city lying on the south side of the river. In the same year we find a company started, of which Mr. Lewis Gordon, the first professor of civil engineering in Glasgow University, and Mr. Laurence Hill, were the engineers. This scheme was the first bold public proposal to tap the Highland lochs lying far to the north of the city, the loch selected—Loch Katrine— being the one from which the city now draws its pure and plentiful supply. This proposal had influential support, and was only withdrawn on the Glasgow Water Company arranging to bring in a supply from Loch Lubnaig, a larire[?] loch near Loch Katrine. It was afterwards found that the Loch Lubnaig scheme was unworkable, and nothing was done.

Besides some of the names mentioned as engaged in the various proposals brought forward, we find that of Professor Rankine, the amiable and learned successor of Professor Gordon in the civil engineering chair of the Glasgow University. Dr. Rankine, along with Mr. John Thomson, in 1852, again brought forward the Loch Katrine supply scheme. After about two years of further proposals the Town Council managed to get the Loch Katrine scheme passed by Parliament, the Glasgow and Gorbals works having passed into their hands. ...

The total cost of the works was £915000. They were begun in 1856 and finished in 1859, being opened by Her Majesty the Queen [Victoria] in person on the 14 October 1859. The engineer was Mr. J. F. Bateman, of London.

From freecen and 18510330 Census John Macvicar Isabella Macvicar William Falconer Geo .. Konig Thomas Hill Lawrence Hill Kate Hill in Ardarroch Row ScotlandsPeople_C1851_503_00_007_000_2_003Z.jpg

30 March 1851 Census for residents of Ardarroch House, Arrochar Road, Finnart, Argyll and Bute G84 0EY 56.11556, -4.83472, Row, Dunbartonshire

• John Macvicar, head, married, male, age 59 [born about 1792] in Auchtergaven, Perthshire, Scotland; J.P. Proprietor
• Isabella Macvicar, wife, married, female, age 51 [born about 1800] in Edinburgh, Midlothian, Scotland
• Thomas Hill, visitor, married, male, age 37 [born about 1814] in Edinburgh, Midlothian, Scotland; Register Of Sasines Glasgow
• Laurence Hill, visitor, married, male, age 34 [born about 1817] in Glasgow, Lanarkshire, Scotland; Engineer Glasgow
• Kate Hill, visitor, married, female, age 21 [born about 1830] in Madras East Indies, Overseas British NOTE: age on freecen is incorrect
• 2 other visitors, 4 House Servants

From London Gazette Issue 21420 Friday, 11 March 1853 Page 762

[Page 761] Patent Law Amendment Act, 1852. Office of the Commissioners of Patents for Inventions.

[Page 762]

516. To Laurence Hill, junior, of Port Glasgow, in the county of Renfrew, Ship Builder, for the invention of "improvements in the production of motive power." — A communication.

From Post-office Greenock directory 1858-1859 Page 80

Lawrence Hill, of L. Hill & Co. House: [Woodbank Cottage, Port Glasgow, Renfrewshire 55.932755, -4.687213], [Ivy bank?], Port Glasgow

From London Gazette Issue 21670 Friday, 2 March 1855 Page 920

Patent Law Amendment Act, 1852. Office of the Commissioners of Patents for Inventions.

Notice is hereby given, that provisional protection has been allowed

362. And to John Robb, Timber Merchant, and Laurence Hill, Ship Builder, both in the parish of Greenock, and county of Renfrew, for the invention of "improvements in the masts and spars of ships and vessels."

On both their petitions, recorded in the Office oft he Commissioners on Saturday, 17 February 1855

From London Gazette Issue 22185 Friday, 24 September 1858 Page 4253

[Page 4252] Patent Law Amendment Act, 1852. Office of the Commissioners of Patents for Inventions.

Notice is hereby given, that provisional protection has been allowed

[Page 4253]

2061. To Laurence Hill, of Port Glasgow, in the county of Renfrew, North Britain, Iron Shipbuilder, for the invention of "improvements in apparatus for lowering or paying out ships' chains and anchors."

On their several petitions, recorded in the Office of the Commissioners on Saturday, 11 September 1858

From Freecen 1861 Scotland Census

7 April 1861 Census for residents of The Knowe, Greenock, Renfrewshire; House with 14 rooms

• Lawrence Hill, head, married, male, aged 44 [born about 18] in Dalbeth, Lanarkshire; Shipbuilder, Employing 100 men 15 boys
• Catherine Hill, wife, married, female, aged 31 [born about 18] in Madras, Overseas British; Enumerated as Scholar [?]
• Lawrence Hill, son, single, male, aged 9 [born about 18] in Glasgow, Lanarkshire; Scholar
• Jessie N Hill, daughter, single, female, aged 7 [born about 18] in Port Glasgow, Renfrewshire; Scholar
• Alexander Hill, son, single, male, aged 5 [born about 18] in Port Glasgow, Renfrewshire; Scholar
• Barbara C Hill, daughter, single, female, aged 2 [born about 18] in Port Glasgow, Renfrewshire
• Elizabeth R Hill, daughter, single, female, aged 1 [born about 18] in Port Glasgow, Renfrewshire
• William Moore, visitor, single, male, aged 24 [born about 18] in England; Engineer
• Mary Patterson, servant, single, female, aged 23 [born about 18] in England; Nurse
• Jessie Henderson, servant, single, female, aged 24 [born about 18] in Edinburgh, Midlothian; Housemaid
• Catherine Ferguson, servant, single, female, aged 59 [born about 18] in Inveraray, Argyllshire; Domestic Cook

From London Gazette Issue 22598 Friday, 14 February 1862 Page 779

[Page 777] Patent Law Amendment Act, 1852. Office of the Commissioners of Patents for Inventions.

[Page 779]

282. To Laurence Hill, of Port Glasgow, in the county of Renfrew, North Britain, Shipbuilder, for the invention of "improvements in applying armour plating to war ships."

On their several petitions, recorded in the Office of the Commissioners on Monday, 3 February 1862

From London Gazette Issue 23230 Friday, 15 March 1867 Page 1741

557. Laurence Hill, of Port Glasgow, in the county of. Renfrew, North Britain, Shipbuilder, for an invention of "improvements in and relating to windlasses and riding or mooring bits. "— Dated Saturday, 5 March 1864.

From London Gazette Issue 23595 Friday, 4 March 1870 Page 1600

454. To Laurence Hill, of Port Glasgow, in the county of Renfrew, North Britain, for the invention of "improved safety apparatus for locomotives and brake wagons."

On their several petitions, recorded in the Office of the Commissioners on Wednesday, 16 February 1870.

From London Gazette Issue 23653 Friday, 2 September 1870 Page 4067

The estates of Laurence Hill and Company, Engineers and Shipbuilders at Inch Works, near Port Glasgow, in the county of Renfrew, and Laurence Hill, Engineer and Shipbuilder there, the only Individual Partner of that Company, as such Partner and as an Individual, were sequestrated on the Tuesday, 30 August 1870, by the Sheriff of Renfrewshire.

The first deliverance is dated Tuesday, 30 August 1870

The meeting to elect the Trustee and Commissioners is to be held at twelve o'clock, noon, on [Tuesday?] Friday, 30 September 1870, within the White Hart Hotel, in Greenock.

A composition may be offered at this meeting; and to entitle creditors to the first dividend, their oaths and grounds of debt must be lodged on or before the Friday, 30 December 1870.

A Warrant of Protection has been granted to the Bankrupt, Laurence Hill, till the meeting for election of Trustee.

All future advertisements relating to this sequestration will be published in the Edinburgh Gazette alone.

Blair and Auld, Writers, Greenock, Agents.

From freecen - Helen H Hill 1871 Renfrewshire Greenock born 1868

2 April 1871 Census for residents of The Knowe, now 15 Shankland Grove, Greenock, Renfrewshire PA15 2PE 55.93639, -4.71194

• Lawrence Hill, head, married, male, age 53 [born about 1818] in Barony, Lanarkshire, Scotland; Consulting Engineer; 8 rooms
• Catherine Hill, wife, married, female, age 41 [born about 1830] in India, Overseas British
• Jessie Hill, daughter, unmarried, female, age 17 [born about 1854] in Newark, Renfrewshire, Scotland
• Christina F Hill, daughter, single, female, age 9 [born about 1862] in Greenock, Renfrewshire, Scotland; Scholar
• James N Hill, son, single, male, age 6 [born about 1865] in Greenock, Renfrewshire, Scotland; Scholar
• Helen H Hill, daughter, single, female, age 3 [born about 1868] in Greenock, Renfrewshire, Scotland
• Laura Hill, daughter, single, female, age 1 [born about 1870] in Greenock, Renfrewshire, Scotland
• Agnes Adamson, servant, single, female, age 19 [born about 1852] in Newton, Dumfriesshire, Scotland; Domestic Servant

From Edinburgh Gazette Issue 8170 Friday, 9 June 1871 Page 403

Notice of Dividend.

In the Sequestration of Laurence Hill & Company, Engineers and Shipbuilders at Inch Works, near Port-Glasgow, in the County of Renfrew, and Laurence Hill, Engineer and Shipbuilder there, the only Individual Partner of that Company, as such Partner, and as an Individual.

Walter Mackenzie, Chartered Accountant in Glasgow, Trustee, hereby gives Notice that the Accounts of his intromissions with the Funds of the Estate, brought down to 30 May 1871 [last], have been audited by the Commissioners, that he has examined the claims of the several Creditors who have lodged their oaths and grounds of debt on or before the said date, and that a second and final Dividend will be paid within the Chambers of Messrs. Mackenzie, Aitken, & Barclay, Chartered Accountants, No. 66 Saint Vincent Street, Glasgow, upon Saturday, 1 July 1871 [next].

Walter Mackenzie, Trustee.

Glasgow, Wednesday, 7 June 1871

From London Gazette Issue 23766 Friday, 11 August 1871 Page 3558

1973. To Laurence Hill, of Glasgow, in the county of Lanark, North Britain, Civil Engineer, for the invention of "improvements in tramways."

From Newspapers: Glasgow Herald Tuesday, 14 May 1872 Page 2

THE GLASGOW PATENT ICE COMPANY (LIMITED).

Incorporated under the Companies Acts of 1862 and 1867.

Capital £14,000, in 1400 Shares of £10 each; 1050 of which are Offered for Public Subscription...

Directors: James Robertson Reid, Esq. of Woodburn, Rutherglen. Professor McCall Anderson, M.D., 14 Woodside Crescent, Glasgow. Neil Cochrane, Esq., Coal master, Cornsilloch, Lanarkshire. William Hamilton, Esq., Woodside Crescent, Glasgow. ...

Consulting Engineer: Laurence Hill, Esq., C.E., Glasgow.

From London Gazette Issue 23902 Friday, 27 September 1872 Page 4496

2725. To Laurence Hill, of Glasgow, in the county of Lanark, North Britain, Civil Engineer, for the invention of improvements in apparatus for regulating the speed of marine engines."

From Newspapers: Glasgow Herald Wednesday, 20 November 1872 Page 2 Anderson's University: Applied Mechanics

A course of 20 Lectures on Marine Engineering will be delivered by Mr. Laurence Hill, C.E., Glasgow, on Monday evenings, at eight o'clock, commencing Monday, 23 November 1872 [Curt]. Tickets (10s. 6d. each) may be had from the janitor, or at the conclusion of the introductory lecture.

J. B. Kidston, Secretary. Anderson's University, [Anderson's University, now Royal College Building, 204 George Street, Glasgow G1 1XW 55.8615219, -4.2463055], Monday, 18 November 1872.

From London Gazette Issue 24448 Friday, 27 April 1877 Page 2811

1408. To Laurence Hill, of Glasgow, in the county of Lanark, North Britain, Civil Engineers for the invention of "improvements in apparatus for retarding and restarting tramway and other carriages."

From Post-office Greenock directory, 1880-1881

1880: Laurence Hill, C.E., consulting engineer, 59 St Vincent Street, Glasgow. [House:] The Knowe, Port Glasgow Road, Greenock

From MyHeritage: Laurence Hill: 1881 Scotland Census (transcription only)

3 April 1881 Census for residents of The Knowe, Bogston Road, Greenock, Renfrewshire, Scotland

• Laurence Hill, head, married, male, aged 64 [born about 1817], in Dalbeth, Lanarkshire; Civil Engineer
• Catherine Hill, wife, married, female, aged 51 [born about 1830], in India
• Alexander Hill, son, single, male, aged 25 [born about 1856], in Port Glasgow, Renfrewshire; Miner's Engineer
• Catherine Hill, daughter, single, female, aged 22 [born about 1859], in Port Glasgow, Renfrewshire
• Elizabeth Hill, daughter, single, female, aged 21 [born about 1860], in Greenock, Renfrewshire
• Christian Hill, daughter, single, female, aged 19 [born about 1862], in Greenock, Renfrewshire; Scholar
• James Hill, son, single, male, aged 16 [born about 1865], in Greenock, Renfrewshire; Scholar
• Laura Hill, daughter, single, female, aged 11 [born about 1870], in Greenock, Renfrewshire; Scholar
• Frank Hill, son, single, male, aged 8 [born about 1873], in Greenock, Renfrewshire; Scholar
• Margaret Sinclair, servant, single, female, aged 26 [born about 1855], in [Isla? Islay?], Argyllshire; Cook
• Dina Watson, servant, single, female, aged 23 [born about 1858], in Inverness, Inverness-shire; Domestic Servant

From MyHeritage: Laurence Hill: 1891 Scotland Census (transcription only)

5 April 1891 Census for residents of Great Western Road, Glasgow, Lanarkshire, Scotland

• Laurence Hill, head, married, male, aged 74 [born about 1817], in Glasgow, Lanarkshire; Civil Engineer
• Katherine Hill, wife, married, female, aged 61 [born about 1830], in India
• Elizabeth R Hill, daughter, single, female, aged 31 [born about 1860], in Port Glasgow, Renfrewshire; Governess
• James W Hill, son, single, male, aged 26 [born about 1865], in Greenock, Renfrewshire; Marine Engineer
• Laura Hill, daughter, single, female, aged 21 [born about 1870], in Greenock, Renfrewshire
• Mary Paterson, servant, single, female, aged 25 [born about 1866], in Duns, Berwickshire; Cook (Domestic Servant)
• Christina Anderson, servant, single, female, aged 24 [born about 1867], in Motherwell, Lanarkshire; Tablemaid (Domestic Servant)

From 1 Beauly Terrace 1 Beauly Terrace, North Kelvinside: formerly Montgomerie Street, now 14 Clouston Street

• 1891 No occupants given until 1892
• 1892-99 Laurence Hill,civil engineer

From Geni: 1892 12 27 Laurence Hill Death.jpg and Scotland's People: Deaths

• Tuesday, 27 December 1892 at 07:00; at 14 Montgomerie Street [now 14 Clouston Street], North Kelvinside, Glasgow
• Death of Laurence Hill, married to Catherine Wardrop; Civil Engineer; 76 years old male [born about 1816]
• Son of Laurence Hill, LL.D., Solicitor (deceased) and Barbara Hill, maiden surname: Hopkirk (deceased)
• Died of disease of bladder prostrate 2 years, fatty disease of heart 1 year; as certified by J. Crawford [Renton?] M.D.
• Informant Frank Hill, son, present
• Registered Thursday, 29 December 1892 at Maryhill by William [Muid?], Registrar, in the district of Maryhill in the county of Lanark

From Newspapers: Aberdeen Journal, and General Advertiser for the North of Scotland Thursday, 29 December 1892 Page 4

The death took place on Tuesday, at his residence 1 Beauly Gardens, Kelvinside, Glasgow, of Mr. Laurence Hill, C.E. To him and Mr. Lewis Gordon, late Professor of Civil Engineering in the University of Glasgow, belonged the honour of first suggesting the Loch Katrine water scheme. Mr. Hill was in his 78th year, and belonged to a well-known Glasgow family

From British Newspaper Archive: Helensburgh News Thursday, 29 December 1892 Page 2 Death of Mr Laurence Hill, C.E. Note: incorrect date of death

Mr Laurence Hill, C.E., died on Wednesday forenoon, 28 December 1892, at his residence, Beauly Gardens, Kelvinside, Glasgow, in the 78th year of his age. Deceased was a son of Dr Laurence Hill of Barlanark, was married, and leaves a grown-up family. Deceased's father was the senior partner in the original firm of Hill, Davidson, Hill & Clarke, one of the oldest firms of writers in Glasgow, now that of Hill & Hogan, 194 Ingram Street.

The late Mr Hill was at one time a well-known shipbuilder in Port Glasgow, and afterwards became associated with the late Professor Macquorn Rankine, of the Civil Engineering Chair in the Glasgow University, in his consulting rooms in the city. After Professor Rankine's death, Mr Hill continued the consulting practice in the office formerly occupied by Professor Rankine. To him and Mr Lewis Gordon, Professor of Civil Engineering in the University of Glasgow, belonged the honour of being the first suggesters of the Loch Katrine water scheme. At their instigation a committee was appointed, who prepared a bill — which, however, was withdrawn — long before the existing scheme was carried into effect.

Of the members of Mr Hill's family who mourn his loss, the eldest surviving son is in Spain connected with the mining industries of that country.

NOTE: [Barlanark House, Shettleston, Glasgow 55.8589066, -4.1435791]

From British Newspaper Archive: Greenock Telegraph and Clyde Shipping Gazette Monday, 16 January 1893 Page 3 Sidelights: Referring to the late Mr Laurence Hill

Referring to the late Mr Laurence Hill, who was so long and so honourably connected with the shipbuilding and marine engineering industries of Port-Glasgow, a correspondent, who had the pleasure of his acquaintance for many years, writes as follows:

My old friend Mr Hill was of a very inventive turn of mind; indeed, his inventive faculty was rarely at rest. He frequently attended the meetings of the Institution of Engineers and Shipbuilders of Scotland, of which he was member for the year 1865, when the Scottish Shipbuilders' Association became incorporated with the Institution; and besides taking part from time to time in the discussion of professional subjects with which he was acquainted, he brought forward several of his minor inventions, his descriptions of which were listened to with marked respect by his fellow-members.

In like manner often contributed very valuable letters to the correspondence columns of the Glasgow Herald, more especially in the way of making important suggestions that were called forth by disasters at sea or on land.

Much has been said in recent years regarding the experimental tank fitted up and elaborately equipped with mechanism and appliances of various kinds by Messrs William Denny & Brothers at Leven Shipyard, Dumbarton, for the purpose of making experiments with ship's models, &c. But the experimental department of Leven shipyard was largely a copy from that of the late Mr William Froude, C.E., F.R.S., of Torquay, who did so much valuable work by his experiments for the Admiralty and for Royal Commissions of which he was a member.

The late Mr Lawrence Hill, however, was long in advance of the eminent shipbuilding firm at Dumbarton in the way of working on the same lines, and contemporaneously with Mr Froude, if not even before that gentleman, went in for his experimental tank. Mr Hill fixed up such a tank in the grounds surrounding his house at Port-Glasgow; and a well-known member of Lloyd's survey staff tells me that he often helped him o' nights to carry out his experiments with models of ships which he was about to build, and some of which were very famous in their day.

By the way, I ought to mention that Mr Baird, of Elie, a member of the great Gartsherrie firm, came largely to the aid of Mr Hill on the point of "ways and means"; for, though the late Port-Glasgow shipbuilder could build handsome vessels and put capital engines into them, he never became a wealthy man. An honest job rather than wealth was ever his aim in business.

From findagrave: Laurence Hill (1816-1892)

• Name: Laurence Hill
• Born: Sunday, 21 July 1816, Glasgow, Scotland
• Died: Tuesday, 27 December 1892 (aged 76), Kelvinside, Glasgow, Scotland
• Buried: Glasgow Necropolis, Wishart Street, Glasgow G4 0UZ 55.86217, -4.23340
• Plot: [Beta 2/1 55.86203, -4.23285]
• About: Buried on Friday, 30 December 1892. Died aged 76 years old at 1 Beauly Terrace, Kelvinside, Glasgow. He was born at his maternal grandfather James Hopkirk's house, Dalbeth House, Glasgow. His occupation was a civil engineer. He married Catherine Wardrop on Wednesday, 27 March 1850 at his brother Thomas Hill's house, Langside Cottage, Langside, Glasgow. His brother Thomas Hill married Catherine's sister Jessie Wardrop.