Thomas Meik

He was born at Easter Duddingston on 20 January 1812, the son of Patrick Meik and his wife, Barbara Scott. Educated at the High School and University of Edinburgh, Thomas Meik worked for two years with a firm of millwrights named Moodie and was then apprenticed to John Steedman, an engineer and contractor who was working in Glasgow on the Hutcheson Bridge (designed by Robert Stevenson, grandfather of author Robert Louis Stevenson). His first long-term post was as assistant engineer to William Chadwell Mylne of the New River Company, London. ==River Wear Commission==

In 1845, at the age of 33, Meik was appointed engineer to the River Wear Commission (responsible for maritime works around Sunderland). In 1859, the commission took over the construction of the Hendon Dock on the south side of the Wear, and Meik was responsible for the entire works (the task included a grain warehouse and a lighthouse – which, although relocated when the South Pier was shortened in 1983, still stands today). Just a few miles further north, he was also consulting engineer to Blyth Harbour from 1862. ==Partnerships==

yard In 1868, he entered into partnership with William David Nisbet (1837–1897) in Sunderland and Edinburgh. He retired in 1888 and died at his home in Newbattle Terrace in Edinburgh in 1896 aged 84, leaving his business in the hands of his sons, Patrick and Charles. He was buried in Duddingston Kirkyard. The grave lies in the south-west corner. The firm they founded remains active. It was later known as Halcrow Group Limited, taking its name from Sir William Halcrow, who joined the company in the early years of the 20th century; Halcrow was acquired by US firm CH2M Hill in 2011, and in 2017 CH2M was acquired by Jacobs Engineering Group. ==Family==

He was married to Julia Hunter (1825–1911), daughter of Walter Hunter of Bow in Middlesex. Their children included Thomas Carsie Meik (1847–1894), Julia (died in infancy), Patrick Walter Meik MICE (1851–1910), Edward (died in childhood), Charles Scott Meik (1853–1923) and Henry Hunter Meik WS (d.1923). ==References==