Smeaton's Tower

June 8 is a big day for lighthouse builders.  Last year's post celebrated Robert Stevenson's birth (June 8, 1724).  This year's remembrance is of John Smeaton, who was born forth-eight years later, to the day (1772).  Smeaton developed a way to employ lime in building below sea level, called hydraulic lime.  

To compare Smeaton's Eddystone with Stevenson's Bell Rock Lighthouse, the following comes from David Stevenson's "Life of Robert Stevenson, civil engineer":

" All knew the difficulties of the erection of the Eddystone Lighthouse, and the casualties to which that edifice had been liable ; and in comparing the two situations, it was generally remarked that the Eddystone was barely covered by the tide at high water, while the Bell Rock was barely uncovered at low water."

Sir Walter Scott paid a famous visit to Bell Rock Lighthouse in 1818.