James Rennie Barnett OBE (1864 - 1965)

Born 6 Sep 1864 in Paisley, Renfrewshire, Scotland, United Kingdom

Ancestors

Husband of Annie C C (Finlay) Barnett — married 1899 in Kelvin, Lanarkshire, Scotland, United Kingdom

Died 13 Jan 1965 at age 100 in Glasgow, Lanarkshire, Scotland, United Kingdom

Biography

JAMES RENNIE BARNETT OBE Born in 1864, the son of a bookkeeper, James Rennie Barnett was a native of Johnston, Renfrewshire. Barnett studied Naval Architecture at Glasgow University before becoming the apprentice of G.L. Watson.

His younger brother was Thomas Ratcliffe Barnett, the clergyman and author, with whom he built a sailing canoe to his own design, the Kelpie; the two lads then took it on a camping trip to Lochs Lomond and Katrine, which Thomas related in detail in his book ‘The Road to Rannoch and the Summer Isles’. After a year working as a draughtsman at Dreford & Sons, James Barnett returned to G.L. Watson & Co. in 1889 as Watson’s chief draughtsman.

In 1904 Barnett succeeded Watson as senior partner of the firm. His long career at G.L. Watson & Co. covered the development of the modern yacht from Britannia onwards and he continued to develop the firm’s tradition of handsome yachts. Barnett designed amongst many others; Nahlin, Blue Bird, Sunbeam II and Rainbow.

On his succession as senior partner Barnett was simultaneously appointed as consulting Naval Architect to the RNLI, a post he held until 1947. During Barnett’s time changes in lifeboat design brought about: increasing efficiency, better ranges of stability and improvements in operational safety. The RNLI recognised the great service of Barnett and his predecessor by naming two lifeboat types after them; the Watson and the Barnett, and they have since been described as ‘the fathers of the modern life-boat fleet’. On his retirement Barnett was awarded the RNLI's highest award, its Gold Medal.

In 1957 Barnett retired from G.L. Watson & Co. after more than 70 years with the company. James Rennie Barnett died on 13th January, 1965, shortly after reaching his 100th birthday.

Sources

• "Scotland Births and Baptisms, 1564-1950", database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/) [accessed 11/12/2020], entry for Birth, Name: James Rennie Barnett Date: 6 Sep 1864 Place: Abbey, Paisley Parent(s): James Barnett/Janet Ratcliffe
• National Records of Scotland (Online Database “Scotland’s People”), Statutory Registers (accessed 11/12/2020), Marriages, ref 644/9 559 Kelvin, entry for BARNETT, JAMES RENNIE, 1899, FINLAY, ANNIE CC
• GL Watson & Co Ltd (website online, accessed 20/02/2021) [1]