John Thornycroft (1843-1928) aged 17 constructed a 36 foot long steam launch in his father's sculpture studio here on Chiswick Mall with which he surprised everybody by keeping up with a boat race. He had started his studies in the yards of Yarrow and Glasgow. His first business was a workshop near to the ferry (which crossed to Barnes where St Paul's school now is). He became Sir John Isaac Thornycroft F.R.S. and his business became Vosper Thornycrofts which has been one of the Royal Navy's major providers of warships for the past 100 years.

O/S Co-ords:2187.7806
Source(s):

Chambers Biographical Dictionary

Chiswick