The Project Gutenberg EBook of Smeaton and Lighthouses, by John Smeaton

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Title: Smeaton and Lighthouses
A Popular Biography, with an Historical Introduction and Sequel

Author: John Smeaton

Release Date: March 3, 2010 [EBook #31482]

Language: English

Character set encoding: ASCII

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SMEATON
AND
LIGHTHOUSES.

A POPULAR BIOGRAPHY, WITH AN
HISTORICAL INTRODUCTION
AND SEQUEL.

LONDON:
JOHN W. PARKER, WEST STRAND.
M.DCCC.XLIV.

PREFACE.

One of the most useful and pleasing forms under which knowledge can be
presented to the general reader, is that of the biography of
distinguished men who have contributed to the progress of that
knowledge in some one or other of its various departments. But it too
frequently happens that the biographical notices of great men consist
rather of personal, trivial, and unimportant details, than of a clear
and broad outline of the influence which they exerted upon the pursuit
and upon the age in which they were distinguished. The true object of
biography is, in tracing the progress of an individual, to show
clearly what result his active life has produced on the well-being of
his fellow-men, and also what is the position which he occupies as one
of the 'great landmarks in the map of human nature[1].'

Yet we are not satisfied with a biography which regards its subject in
his public capacity alone: we are naturally curious to ascertain
whether the same qualities which rendered him celebrated in public
followed him likewise into private life, and distinguished him there.
We regard with interest in his private capacity the man who has been
the originator of much public good; we look with an