Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Beardmore, Nathaniel
BEARDMORE, NATHANIEL (1816–1872), civil engineer, was born at Nottingham on 19 March 1816. He began his professional education as pupil to a Plymouth architect, and subsequently to the well-known engineer Mr. J. M. Rendel, whose partner he ultimately became. Much of the experience be obtained respecting water supplies and so forth was gained in works undertaken at this time. His partnership with Mr. Rendel ceased in 1848. In 1850 Beardmore became sole engineer to the works for the drainage and navigation of the river Lee. In the same year appeared, with the title of 'Hydraulic Tables,' the first edition of a book which, under the fuller description of 'Manual of Hydrology; containing I. Hydraulic and other Tables; II. Rivers, Flow of Water, Springs, Wells, and Percolation; III. Tides, Estuaries, and Tidal Rivers; IV. Rain-fall and Evaporation,' afterwards became the text-book of the profession for hydraulic engineering. The above title is that of the third and enlarged edition, which appeared in 1862. During the remaining ten years of his life Beardmore's practice as an engineer was greatly extended by this work. He died on 24 Aug. 1872, at Broxbourne, Hertfordshire, whither he had moved in 1855.
[Annual Report of the Institute of Civil Engineers, 17 Dec. 1872]