John Rowan – Introduction

“Mr Rowan, though an untaught country mechanic, has completely eclipsed the most celebrated English and other steam-coach artists”

Belfast Newsletter 6th January 1836

County Antrim man John Rowan was an extraordinary inventor and pioneer of early steam-powered transport.

Background

John Rowan was born on 21st February 1787, to William Rowan and Sarah, nee Randall. He grew up in the village of Doagh in County Antrim. As a child he displayed a keen interest in learning and availed himself of the library of the Doagh Reading Society beside the old Methodist Church in the village. He was also a regular pupil at the Sunday School established in 1770 by William Galt (see link to post below).

Doagh

In the 1830’s Doagh was described –

“The village consists of 46 houses and cottages. Of these, 7 are 2-storey high, 35 thatched and the remainder slated. All are built of stone and lime, and all are roughcast and whitened. They are in general substantial and neat-looking, and though there has not been any regard paid to uniformity or regularity, still from its cleanliness and situation the appearance of the village is not unpleasing”

Lieutenant Edward Durnford October 1832

Family

John married Mary Ellison. The couple had at least three sons – William, John and Robert. Some sources mention another son, Andrew, who may have died at a young age (he is not mentioned in his father’s will). They also had two daughters – Mary and Agnes known as Nancy.

Early Career

In 1824 Rowan established the Speedwell Forge on the Doagh River. As a self-taught mechanic, he made and repaired farming machinery and implements as well as working as a blacksmith. His boys all worked here too, and he employed local lads as apprentices.

“It consists of a neat quadrangular enclosure, measuring in the extreme 100 by 80 feet, containing the workshops and sheds which occupy 3 of its sides. The turning and fitting-up shop measures 35 by 16 feet, the grinding shop 25 by 10, and two other apartments or rooms 45 by 18, and 29 by 18 feet. The machinery is altogether propelled by water”.

Ordnance Survey Memoirs Volume 29 County Antrim

John was a popular figure in Doagh and it is said folk would often stop at his works and pass ‘the time of day’. The business certainly impressed the author of the Ordnance Survey Memoirs

“This establishment is kept in the neatest order and exhibits considerable economy of time and labour. All manner of fittings for machinery, steam engines, farming implements and ordinary smith work are executed here in a superior manner”

Ordnance Survey Memoirs Volume 29 County Antrim

Rowan’s Steam-Powered Carriage

In the early 1830’s, Rowan began a ‘labour of love’ designing and building a steam-powered carriage that travelled on roads.

At 1 o’clock on Tuesday 5th January 1836, John drove his experimental vehicle named ‘Perseverance’ around Belfast for a demonstration. This caused a great deal of excitement. Crowds gathered to witness this new invention as Rowan drove about the city centre streets.

“….from great George’s-street, amidst a dense crowd of spectators, such as we scarcely witnessed in Belfast on any occasion whatever, and proceeded in admirable style through York-street, Donegall-street, Bridge-street, High-street, Castle-place, Donegall-place, and Wellington-place, up to the front of the Institution gates, where it remained for some time, while the streets in all directions as far as the eye could reach were literally crowded with spectators”

Belfast Newsletter 6th January 1836

Recognition

The band of the 46th Regiment were stationed in front of the Exchange Buildings and played a number of stirring tunes as the ‘steam-powered car’ drove past. This was with the permission of Col Campbell and under the direction of Mr Keating. The musical pieces included ‘Away to the Mountains Brow’ the waltz of the Duke de Reichstadt and the ‘Marquis of Donegall’s March’

Rowan then proceeded to demonstrate his inventions capabilities –

“In front of the Institution, Mr Rowan, by way of shewing the complete command which he had over the machinery of the coach, caused it to whirl round with immense rapidity for a few minutes, while at the same time he exhibited his power of stopping instantaneously, to the no small astonishment of the multitude”

Belfast Newsletter 6th January 1836

The author of the newspaper article concluded his writing by urging Belfast’s entrepreneurial citizens to recompense Rowan for his expenses and to invest in the new steam carriage “an undertaking honourable in the highest degree to the genius of Irishmen, and ultimately beneficial to the community in general”.

Unfortunately, at this time, the development of the railways was where investors were putting their money. Rowan’s road-based ‘steam-coach’ failed to get the necessary funding to proceed.

Business Expansion – The Doagh Foundry

In January 1839 Rowan extended his business by opening the Doagh Foundry. Here the team persevered in making farming equipment and producing new improved versions.

Rowan was enterprising enough to take his inventions to wider markets. Representatives of the firm were available to provide further information every Friday at Cunningham’s Hotel in North Street, Belfast and every Saturday at Mrs Brangan’s in Ballymena.

Portable Steaming Apparatus

In the early 1840’s, John Rowan was advertising a ‘portable steaming apparatus’. This could be used for steaming food for cattle and in domestic situations. At £6 10 shillings, it was an investment, but was said to be quick, reliable and easy to use.

An example of the machine could be viewed in the offices of the Northern Whig on Waring Street. By this stage Rowen had agents working for him in many local towns including Downpatrick, Newry and Hillsborough.

Rowan’s Axle

Another innovative design produced by John Rowan, was the anti-friction ‘Rowan’s Axle’. This was a potential ‘goldmine’ as it had uses for mill owners, railway companies and coach proprietors.

Rowan was careful to patent his invention in the UK, France and Belgium. His customer base had now extended to England and he had agents based in London.

Relocation to Belfast

In 1846, Rowan’s business was thriving and he relocated to Belfast. Here Rowan & Sons set up a foundry at 152.5 York Street.

The firm continued to make and improve new machinery such as the more efficient ‘scutching and heckling’ equipment for the textile industry and an improvement for steam boilers and furnace flues, both in 1857.

The family were also proprietors of the Milewater Spinning Company near to Jennymount Mill.

By the end of the decade Rowan & Sons had contracts with the Belfast Harbour Commissioners.

In 1859 they manufactured a 50-ton travelling crane for Prince’s Dock. Subsequently, in 1862, they produced a hand-operated crane.

“One of the most important figures in the history of Doagh, and a true entrepreneur in Ulster manufacturing history, was John Rowan”

www.doaghancestry.co.uk

Mount Collyer

Initially John Rownan and his family resided close to their business premises at 133 and 135 York Street.

However, by at least 1861 the Rowans were living in a handsome 2-storey Georgian house called Mount Collyer. This was situated on the outskirts of Belfast in a rural setting not far from the shores of Belfast Lough.

This area was popular with prosperous merchants and businessmen as it had the benefits of county living while only a short commute into the city. This grand house was demolished in 1882 to make way for housing.

Rowan’s Death

John Rowan died on 19th January 1858, aged 71, at his Belfast residence. He was buried in an unmarked grave in Old Ballylinney cemetery near his birthplace of Doagh.

Rowan’s sons continued the family business until 1873. The three brothers, William, John and Robert then sold the firm for £30,000 to Robert Macaulay and Edward Reilly.

Part of the deal was that they would not start a rival ironworks or foundry for the next 20 years. However, William was employed as General Manager for the new company. William Rowan, was himself the inventor of the Rowan’s Patent Piston and was a well-known and esteemed engineer in Belfast.

Remembering John Rowan

In February 1859, a year after John Rowan’s death, a committee was formed in Doagh with the aim of erecting a memorial to the village’s renown son. Funds were raised and on Saturday 18th August 1860 a monument to John Rowan was unveiled in the middle of the village. Many folk from County Antrim and Belfast came to witness the event.

The monument was designed by Mr Strype, an employee of the Rowan’s firm, and the work was carried out by Messrs McLaughlin and Harvey of York Street. It was composed of an obelisk 12ft high and 3.5 ft square at the base. It stood on a 3-stepped octangular pedestal. The memorial was inscribed.

Mr Getty Esq., a life-long friend of John Rowan’s gave the opening address

“He raised himself to an eminence by his own indomitable genius and perseverance – an incentive to others to go forward and do likewise”.

Mr Getty, a life-long friend of John Rowan

Then the Rev John Porter gave the inaugural address. Many businessmen, local gentry and ‘gentlemen’ attended the event in Rowan’s hometown, including William Langtry Esq., F D Finlay Esq. and the Rev D Maginnis. Subsequently they were

“…entertained by the Messrs Rowan at a dejeuner in the Doagh Hotel. About fifty gentlemen sat down at table and partook of an excellent repast, supplied in first-class style by Mr Thompson of Donegall Place”

Belfast Newsletter 20th August 1860

Among those at the unveiling were the staff of Messrs Rowan & Sons. They had been given the day off work and a special train had been laid on to transport them to Ballyclare and then carriages to Doagh. They were accompanied by a brass band.

After the ceremony the employees were treated to dinner supplied by Mr Dunlop of the Thistle Hotel in Arthur Square before returning to Belfast.

Conclusion

It is a pity that the talents and inventiveness of John Rowan have largely been forgotten. Perhaps in some small way this post will help remedy that.

“His great and good qualities will live in monuments more enduring than stone, and when this monument will mingle with the dust, the name of Rowan will not be forgotten”

Related Post

William Galt – Sunday School, Book-Burning and Rebellion

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