Dictionary of Irish Architects 1720 - 1940

Engineer, of Dublin. Thomas Francis Pigot, youngest son of David Richard Pigot (1797-1873), Chief Baron of the Exchequer in Ireland, who was born in Dublin circa 1836,(1) entered the École des Ponts et Chaussées, Paris, in 1858. At the end of the three-year course he was placed second in the final examination for the 'elèves externes' and was duly awarded the school's diploma. He then spent eight months at Fairbairn's engineering works in Manchester, after which he worked on railways in Britain and Sardinia.(2) At the end of 1867 he was appointed the first Professor of Descriptive Geometry, Mechanical Drawing and Surveying at the College of Science for Ireland, where he also ran a course in civil engineering and building construction. This course proved so successful that 'Engineering' was subsequently added to the title of his professorship. He had a particular interest in inland navigation.

Pigot retired from the College of Science in 1892. He was then appointed one of the the two Chief Examiners in Science under the Department of Science and Art, a post which he retained until 1901, when he resigned because of poor eyesight. He died on 20 May 1910, leaving an estate valued at £20,953.7s.9d to his sister Kate.(3)

ICEI:(4) elected member, 22 April 1874; council member, 1876 until death; gives paper, 'Moveable Weirs on the River Seine', 6 February 1889;(5) vice-president, 1889-1890; president, 1891-1892.

See BIBLIOGRAPHY. BIBLIOGRAPHY.



References

All information in this entry not otherwise accounted for is from the obituary of Pigot in TICEI 37 (1910-11), 191-193.

(1) G.D. Burtchaell & T.U. Sadleir, eds., Alumni Dublinenses (1935), Supplement, 96.
(2) Information as given in Pigot's application for membership of ICEI, 1874, ICEI Membership Applications, II, 1 (photocopy in NLI, Pos. 9384).
(3) IB 52, 20 Aug 1910, 532.
(4) Jones transcripts from TICEI lists of officers.
(5) TICEI 20 (1888-1890), 62-114.


Author Title Date Details
Pigot, Thomas Francis 'Movable weirs on the River Seine' 1890 TICEI 20 (1888-1890), 62-114.
Pigot, Thomas Francis [Presidential address to ICEI] 1892 TICEI 22 (1892-93), 3-24. (On subject of inland navigation.)