John Howkins (civil engineer)

He was born in Granton, Edinburgh in September 1839 the son of John Howkins, civil engineer, (1807–1877) and his wife Mary Collier (1799–1877).

He was educated in Edinburgh and apprenticed from 1853 to 1857 to James Leslie, helping him to oversee the repair of the west pier at the harbour of Methil in Fife.

In 1862 he was appointed Resident Engineer at Stranraer Harbour in the same year of its major expansion by creation of the Portpatrick Railway.

On the opening of the bridge in 1865 he transferred to the Furness and Midland Joint Railway and built the track section from Wennington to Carnforth.

In 1868 he returned briefly to Edinburgh, going to England in 1870 as engineer to the Hartlepool Port and Harbour Commission executing the designs of Thomas Dyke.