One of the finest civil engineers of his era. MacNeill served as Thomas Telford's chief assistant for 10 years, eventually succeeding Telford as Chief Engineer on the massive London-Holyhead road project. When Telford died in 1834, MacNeill established his own consultancy, based in both London and Glasgow, and turned his attention towards the growing technology of the railways. His first projects were freight schemes in the Scottish coal and ironfields near Wishaw and Motherwell. He was also consulting engineer at Grangemouth Docks and for various Scottish canal projects. Later projects centered on his homeland and included the Dublin and Drogheda Railway, and as chief engineer of the Belfast and County Down Railway (founded in 1846), he was responsible for crossing the marshy estuary of the River Quoile to bring the line to Downpatrick in March 1859. His last days involved and drastic fall of income, and MacNeill became impoverished. After a fire destroyed his home he moved to London. He later became blind, dying at his son's house on Cromwell Road, south-west London on the 2nd March, 1880. A commemorative plaque was unveiled on 20 July 2001 at his grave in Brompton Cemetery which had previously been unmarked.
One of the finest civil engineers of his era. MacNeill served as Thomas Telford's chief assistant for 10 years, eventually succeeding Telford as Chief Engineer on the massive London-Holyhead road project. When Telford died in 1834, MacNeill established his own consultancy, based in both London and Glasgow, and turned his attention towards the growing technology of the railways. His first projects were freight schemes in the Scottish coal and ironfields near Wishaw and Motherwell. He was also consulting engineer at Grangemouth Docks and for various Scottish canal projects. Later projects centered on his homeland and included the Dublin and Drogheda Railway, and as chief engineer of the Belfast and County Down Railway (founded in 1846), he was responsible for crossing the marshy estuary of the River Quoile to bring the line to Downpatrick in March 1859. His last days involved and drastic fall of income, and MacNeill became impoverished. After a fire destroyed his home he moved to London. He later became blind, dying at his son's house on Cromwell Road, south-west London on the 2nd March, 1880. A commemorative plaque was unveiled on 20 July 2001 at his grave in Brompton Cemetery which had previously been unmarked.
Bio by: Kieran Smith
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