You are using an outdated browser. Some features may not work correctly, and your experience will not be good. Update your browser

A Man of Resolve: R. H. Brunton - a talented civil engineer at work internationally

Dr. Geoff Goolnik


Region:
Anywhere
Notice Period:
Short (maybe less than one month's notice)
Type:
Speaker on topics based on research
Fee:
Unknown
Category:
History
Updated:
16th August 2026

This is a fascinating, well-illustrated and internationally researched approximately 45 minute talk + Q. & A. on Richard Henry Brunton, a talented civil engineer in the nineteenth century and a proud representative of his profession in a rapidly changing world. Brunton was born in Muchalls, Aberdeenshire, Scotland and initially worked on railway line development. He then came to prominence as Chief Engineer to the Japanese Government when the country was forced to ”open up”. As well as eventually supervising the building of 26 Western-style tower lighthouses along with various other navigational initiatives, he additionally established a groundbreaking staff training and technical complex for this move. Furthermore, he also took a lead in town planning of the chief trading settlement of Yokohama, and in other matters too. Returning to the United Kingdom, Brunton eventually became manager of a large petrochemical plant in the centra 'belt’ of Scotland, getting involved as well with working men's broader education and then, moving back south, took over an architectural ornaments business in London. The company won prizes and worked at home and around the globe. Unfortunately, although extensive, the work was over-stressful and he over-dipped into its income to the extent he was declared personally bankrupt. However, one of his theatrical clients, based in Ireland, approached him to become their architect and there he created three gems of theatre design, two of which, in the cities of Dublin and Cork, still successfully function. Finally, he authored memoirs of his time years before in Japan.

Views: 8 | Enquiries: 0

About Dr. Geoff Goolnik

Dr. Geoff Goolnik is a graduate of Trinity College, Dublin (where he was also President of the influential University Philosophical Society); as well as a post-graduate both of California State University (East Bay) and the University of Strathclyde in Glasgow. Having lived/ worked for a time in London, he has, most latterly until retiring, been on the academic staff of Aberdeen’s Robert Gordon University. In addition, he is an elected Fellow both of the Royal Society of Arts and of the Royal Asiatic Society. Finally, he is currently a resident of Aberdeenshire and situated very close to the settlement where Richard Henry Brunton was born. Geoff explains: “I first heard of (Richard) Henry Brunton - the subject of the talk - when I was living very close to the village where he was born in the north-east of Scotland. He is indeed a much neglected figure generally who, through a balance of civil engineering and management skills, particularly helped with international trade and Japan’s modern development. Throughout his life. he also undertook a variety of other significant roles and involvements that fully illustrate a technocrat's resolve in the rapidly changing world of his time.”


Send a message to the speaker

If you are interested in this talk and wish to contact the speaker, please complete the following form:

 
Please provide your contact name
 
Please provide the name of your group
 
Your phone number so that the speaker can contact you
 
Your email address so that the speaker can contact you
 
Give details about the event, time of day and location
Prove you are human please.
Use the slider to drag the puzzle so that the top and bottom are aligned , or use an alternate text based challenge by clicking here.
Question: Is water wet?
 

Site Search

Search across all speakers, topics and tags. Put your search term in the box and press enter or hit search

Use quotes around exact multiple word searches, eg "winston churchill".