Ian Hills

Findlay's Lighthouse Lists and the Loss of the Margaret Smith Ian Hills

Alexander George Findlay was a renowned nineteenth-century hydrographer whose work made a major contribution to maritime safety, while the Margaret Smith was a humble sailing ship carrying unexciting cargoes such as coal and sugar, just one of countless similar vessels. However, the hydrographer and the ship are inextricably linked. Findlay had a very keen interest in lighthouses and his annual publication, 'A Description and List of the Lighthouses of the World', was a vital source of information for navigators. This book explains why lighthouses were so significant and what Findlay's Lists tell us about their development. It uses the story of the Margaret Smith to exemplify why Findlay's work was so important and examines why a failure to use the data which he provided led directly to her loss.