John Rennie. Coloured Engraving of John Rennie (1761-1821), Scottish civil engineer. Rennie studied at Edinburgh University and finished his training with Boulton and Watt of Birmingham. In the 1790s he became a canal engineer and drained part of the East Anglian fens before becoming a bridge designer. He built the Waterloo and Southwark bridges in London, as well as designing London bridge. He also worked extensively on the design of docks and improved 44 harbours in Britain. Rennie was a hard worker and made business appointments as early as 5am. He declined a knighthood in 1817 and was buried in St Paul's Cathedral in London.