James Rennie Barnett OBE (6 September 1864 – 13 January 1965) was a Scottish naval architect.
[2] During this time, Barnett completed a degree in Naval Architecture at the University of Glasgow.
In 1896, he received the South Kensington first Class Honours Certificate and Medal for Naval Architecture.
In 1888, Barnett joined William Doxford & Sons as a Draughtsman, leaving in 1889 to return to G.L.
Barnett brought about many changes in lifeboat design including increased efficiency and better operational stability.