GUPPY

Thomas Richard ( 2 son of Samuel Guppy of Bristol, merchant ). b. Bristol 1797; a sugar refiner at Bristol about 1826–30; started with I. K. Brunel a company for constructing a railway from Bristol to London 1830 for which they got an act 1832; constructed with Brunel the ‘Great Western’ steamship which was launched 19 July 1837, ran from Bristol to New York 1838–46, became property of Royal mail steam packet company 1846 and was broken up 1857; invented the cellular system of ship building; constructed the Great Britain, launched 19 July 1843; a isted in the introduction of the screw propeller; manager of Cwmavon, Glam organ, copper works 1844; practised at Naples 1849, a mechanical engineer there 1854; A.I.C.E. 3 May 1842, M.I.C.E. 19 Feb. 1878. d. Portici near Naples 28 June 1882. Min. of proc. of Instit. of C.E. lxix , 411–15 (1882).