expert+on+the+subject

• ОТДАВАТЬ/ОТДАТЬ ДОЛЖНОЕ кому-чему; ОТДАВАТЬ/ОТДАТЬ (ДОЛЖНУЮ < ПОЛНУЮ> СПРАВЕДЛИВОСТЬ

[VP; subj: human; often infin with надо, нужно; fixed WO]

=====

⇒ to appreciate s.o. or sth., acknowledge s.o.'s merit, abilities, skills etc:

- X отдаёт Y-y должное≈ X gives Y Y's due;

- X has to hand it to Y;

|| надо отдать Y-y должное≈ X has to give person Y credit;

- (Y is...,) you've got to < X must> grant him that;

- in all justice (fairness < to Y>)...;

- [usu. when contrasted with the preceding statement] ... (but) to do Y justice;

- [in limited contexts] let us give credit where credit is due;

     ♦ Гартвиг - человек особый. В чем-то я ему завидовал, за что-то глубоко его презирал... Но, разумеется, и отдавал ему должное: свой предмет он знает великолепно, и, главное, знает то, что нужно знать, и Кирилла натаскал здорово (Трифонов 5). Gartwig was no ordinary individual. There were some things about him I envied, and other things I was deeply contemptuous of....But I did of course give him his due: he knew his subject inside and out, and more to the point, he knew what it was necessary to know and did a fine job of coaching Kirill (5a).

     ♦ Марлен Михайлович... внимательно следил за лицами всей компании... Чаще всего взгляд Марлена Михайловича задерживался на "Видном лице" и всякий раз он отдавал ему должное - никак не проникнешь за эту маску (Аксёнов 7). Marlen Mikhailovich...kept close tabs on the faces of the entire crew....The Important Personage received more than his share of attention, of course, and Marlen Mikhailovich had to hand it to him; that mask of his was impenetrable (7a).

     ♦ Взяв всё это во внимание, Тюфяев, и тут нельзя ему не отдать справедливости, представлял министерству о том, чтоб им дать льготы и отсрочки (Герцен 1). Taking all this into consideration, Tyufayev - and one must give him credit for it - asked the Ministry to grant postponements and exemptions (1a).

     ♦ [Дорн:] Да, её папенька порядочная таки скотина, надо отдать ему полную справедливость (Чехов 6). [D.:] Yes, her papa is rather a beast, I must grant him that (6d).

     ♦ Кончилось всё это тем, что Иванов соорудил камеру и в неё действительно уловил красный луч. И надо отдать справедливость, уловил мастерски: луч вышел жирный, сантиметра 4 в поперечнике, острый и сильный (Булгаков 10). This all ended with Ivanov finishing the construction of a chamber and actually capturing the red ray in it. And in all justice, it was an expert job: the ray came out thick,-almost four centimeters in diameter-sharp and powerful (10b).

     ♦ Мне приятно было думать, что Зинаида не может, однако, не отдать справедливости моей решимости, моему героизму... (Тургенев 3). I was glad to think that Zinaida could not but recognise my resolution, my heroism (3a).

• ОТДАВАТЬ/ОТДАТЬ ДОЛЖНОЕ кому-чему; ОТДАВАТЬ/ОТДАТЬ (ДОЛЖНУЮ < ПОЛНУЮ> СПРАВЕДЛИВОСТЬ

[VP; subj: human; often infin with надо, нужно; fixed WO]

=====

⇒ to appreciate s.o. or sth., acknowledge s.o.'s merit, abilities, skills etc:

- X отдаёт Y-y должное≈ X gives Y Y's due;

- X has to hand it to Y;

|| надо отдать Y-y должное≈ X has to give person Y credit;

- (Y is...,) you've got to < X must> grant him that;

- in all justice (fairness < to Y>)...;

- [usu. when contrasted with the preceding statement] ... (but) to do Y justice;

- [in limited contexts] let us give credit where credit is due;

     ♦ Гартвиг - человек особый. В чем-то я ему завидовал, за что-то глубоко его презирал... Но, разумеется, и отдавал ему должное: свой предмет он знает великолепно, и, главное, знает то, что нужно знать, и Кирилла натаскал здорово (Трифонов 5). Gartwig was no ordinary individual. There were some things about him I envied, and other things I was deeply contemptuous of....But I did of course give him his due: he knew his subject inside and out, and more to the point, he knew what it was necessary to know and did a fine job of coaching Kirill (5a).

     ♦ Марлен Михайлович... внимательно следил за лицами всей компании... Чаще всего взгляд Марлена Михайловича задерживался на "Видном лице" и всякий раз он отдавал ему должное - никак не проникнешь за эту маску (Аксёнов 7). Marlen Mikhailovich...kept close tabs on the faces of the entire crew....The Important Personage received more than his share of attention, of course, and Marlen Mikhailovich had to hand it to him; that mask of his was impenetrable (7a).

     ♦ Взяв всё это во внимание, Тюфяев, и тут нельзя ему не отдать справедливости, представлял министерству о том, чтоб им дать льготы и отсрочки (Герцен 1). Taking all this into consideration, Tyufayev - and one must give him credit for it - asked the Ministry to grant postponements and exemptions (1a).

     ♦ [Дорн:] Да, её папенька порядочная таки скотина, надо отдать ему полную справедливость (Чехов 6). [D.:] Yes, her papa is rather a beast, I must grant him that (6d).

     ♦ Кончилось всё это тем, что Иванов соорудил камеру и в неё действительно уловил красный луч. И надо отдать справедливость, уловил мастерски: луч вышел жирный, сантиметра 4 в поперечнике, острый и сильный (Булгаков 10). This all ended with Ivanov finishing the construction of a chamber and actually capturing the red ray in it. And in all justice, it was an expert job: the ray came out thick,-almost four centimeters in diameter-sharp and powerful (10b).

     ♦ Мне приятно было думать, что Зинаида не может, однако, не отдать справедливости моей решимости, моему героизму... (Тургенев 3). I was glad to think that Zinaida could not but recognise my resolution, my heroism (3a).

• ОТДАВАТЬ/ОТДАТЬ ДОЛЖНОЕ кому-чему; ОТДАВАТЬ/ОТДАТЬ (ДОЛЖНУЮ < ПОЛНУЮ> СПРАВЕДЛИВОСТЬ

[VP; subj: human; often infin with надо, нужно; fixed WO]

=====

⇒ to appreciate s.o. or sth., acknowledge s.o.'s merit, abilities, skills etc:

- X отдаёт Y-y должное≈ X gives Y Y's due;

- X has to hand it to Y;

|| надо отдать Y-y должное≈ X has to give person Y credit;

- (Y is...,) you've got to < X must> grant him that;

- in all justice (fairness < to Y>)...;

- [usu. when contrasted with the preceding statement] ... (but) to do Y justice;

- [in limited contexts] let us give credit where credit is due;

     ♦ Гартвиг - человек особый. В чем-то я ему завидовал, за что-то глубоко его презирал... Но, разумеется, и отдавал ему должное: свой предмет он знает великолепно, и, главное, знает то, что нужно знать, и Кирилла натаскал здорово (Трифонов 5). Gartwig was no ordinary individual. There were some things about him I envied, and other things I was deeply contemptuous of....But I did of course give him his due: he knew his subject inside and out, and more to the point, he knew what it was necessary to know and did a fine job of coaching Kirill (5a).

     ♦ Марлен Михайлович... внимательно следил за лицами всей компании... Чаще всего взгляд Марлена Михайловича задерживался на "Видном лице" и всякий раз он отдавал ему должное - никак не проникнешь за эту маску (Аксёнов 7). Marlen Mikhailovich...kept close tabs on the faces of the entire crew....The Important Personage received more than his share of attention, of course, and Marlen Mikhailovich had to hand it to him; that mask of his was impenetrable (7a).

     ♦ Взяв всё это во внимание, Тюфяев, и тут нельзя ему не отдать справедливости, представлял министерству о том, чтоб им дать льготы и отсрочки (Герцен 1). Taking all this into consideration, Tyufayev - and one must give him credit for it - asked the Ministry to grant postponements and exemptions (1a).

     ♦ [Дорн:] Да, её папенька порядочная таки скотина, надо отдать ему полную справедливость (Чехов 6). [D.:] Yes, her papa is rather a beast, I must grant him that (6d).

     ♦ Кончилось всё это тем, что Иванов соорудил камеру и в неё действительно уловил красный луч. И надо отдать справедливость, уловил мастерски: луч вышел жирный, сантиметра 4 в поперечнике, острый и сильный (Булгаков 10). This all ended with Ivanov finishing the construction of a chamber and actually capturing the red ray in it. And in all justice, it was an expert job: the ray came out thick,-almost four centimeters in diameter-sharp and powerful (10b).

     ♦ Мне приятно было думать, что Зинаида не может, однако, не отдать справедливости моей решимости, моему героизму... (Тургенев 3). I was glad to think that Zinaida could not but recognise my resolution, my heroism (3a).

• ОТДАВАТЬ/ОТДАТЬ ДОЛЖНОЕ кому-чему; ОТДАВАТЬ/ОТДАТЬ (ДОЛЖНУЮ < ПОЛНУЮ> СПРАВЕДЛИВОСТЬ

[VP; subj: human; often infin with надо, нужно; fixed WO]

=====

⇒ to appreciate s.o. or sth., acknowledge s.o.'s merit, abilities, skills etc:

- X отдаёт Y-y должное≈ X gives Y Y's due;

- X has to hand it to Y;

|| надо отдать Y-y должное≈ X has to give person Y credit;

- (Y is...,) you've got to < X must> grant him that;

- in all justice (fairness < to Y>)...;

- [usu. when contrasted with the preceding statement] ... (but) to do Y justice;

- [in limited contexts] let us give credit where credit is due;

     ♦ Гартвиг - человек особый. В чем-то я ему завидовал, за что-то глубоко его презирал... Но, разумеется, и отдавал ему должное: свой предмет он знает великолепно, и, главное, знает то, что нужно знать, и Кирилла натаскал здорово (Трифонов 5). Gartwig was no ordinary individual. There were some things about him I envied, and other things I was deeply contemptuous of....But I did of course give him his due: he knew his subject inside and out, and more to the point, he knew what it was necessary to know and did a fine job of coaching Kirill (5a).

     ♦ Марлен Михайлович... внимательно следил за лицами всей компании... Чаще всего взгляд Марлена Михайловича задерживался на "Видном лице" и всякий раз он отдавал ему должное - никак не проникнешь за эту маску (Аксёнов 7). Marlen Mikhailovich...kept close tabs on the faces of the entire crew....The Important Personage received more than his share of attention, of course, and Marlen Mikhailovich had to hand it to him; that mask of his was impenetrable (7a).

     ♦ Взяв всё это во внимание, Тюфяев, и тут нельзя ему не отдать справедливости, представлял министерству о том, чтоб им дать льготы и отсрочки (Герцен 1). Taking all this into consideration, Tyufayev - and one must give him credit for it - asked the Ministry to grant postponements and exemptions (1a).

     ♦ [Дорн:] Да, её папенька порядочная таки скотина, надо отдать ему полную справедливость (Чехов 6). [D.:] Yes, her papa is rather a beast, I must grant him that (6d).

     ♦ Кончилось всё это тем, что Иванов соорудил камеру и в неё действительно уловил красный луч. И надо отдать справедливость, уловил мастерски: луч вышел жирный, сантиметра 4 в поперечнике, острый и сильный (Булгаков 10). This all ended with Ivanov finishing the construction of a chamber and actually capturing the red ray in it. And in all justice, it was an expert job: the ray came out thick,-almost four centimeters in diameter-sharp and powerful (10b).

     ♦ Мне приятно было думать, что Зинаида не может, однако, не отдать справедливости моей решимости, моему героизму... (Тургенев 3). I was glad to think that Zinaida could not but recognise my resolution, my heroism (3a).

• ОТДАВАТЬ/ОТДАТЬ ДОЛЖНОЕ кому-чему; ОТДАВАТЬ/ОТДАТЬ (ДОЛЖНУЮ < ПОЛНУЮ> СПРАВЕДЛИВОСТЬ

[VP; subj: human; often infin with надо, нужно; fixed WO]

=====

⇒ to appreciate s.o. or sth., acknowledge s.o.'s merit, abilities, skills etc:

- X отдаёт Y-y должное≈ X gives Y Y's due;

- X has to hand it to Y;

|| надо отдать Y-y должное≈ X has to give person Y credit;

- (Y is...,) you've got to < X must> grant him that;

- in all justice (fairness < to Y>)...;

- [usu. when contrasted with the preceding statement] ... (but) to do Y justice;

- [in limited contexts] let us give credit where credit is due;

     ♦ Гартвиг - человек особый. В чем-то я ему завидовал, за что-то глубоко его презирал... Но, разумеется, и отдавал ему должное: свой предмет он знает великолепно, и, главное, знает то, что нужно знать, и Кирилла натаскал здорово (Трифонов 5). Gartwig was no ordinary individual. There were some things about him I envied, and other things I was deeply contemptuous of....But I did of course give him his due: he knew his subject inside and out, and more to the point, he knew what it was necessary to know and did a fine job of coaching Kirill (5a).

     ♦ Марлен Михайлович... внимательно следил за лицами всей компании... Чаще всего взгляд Марлена Михайловича задерживался на "Видном лице" и всякий раз он отдавал ему должное - никак не проникнешь за эту маску (Аксёнов 7). Marlen Mikhailovich...kept close tabs on the faces of the entire crew....The Important Personage received more than his share of attention, of course, and Marlen Mikhailovich had to hand it to him; that mask of his was impenetrable (7a).

     ♦ Взяв всё это во внимание, Тюфяев, и тут нельзя ему не отдать справедливости, представлял министерству о том, чтоб им дать льготы и отсрочки (Герцен 1). Taking all this into consideration, Tyufayev - and one must give him credit for it - asked the Ministry to grant postponements and exemptions (1a).

     ♦ [Дорн:] Да, её папенька порядочная таки скотина, надо отдать ему полную справедливость (Чехов 6). [D.:] Yes, her papa is rather a beast, I must grant him that (6d).

     ♦ Кончилось всё это тем, что Иванов соорудил камеру и в неё действительно уловил красный луч. И надо отдать справедливость, уловил мастерски: луч вышел жирный, сантиметра 4 в поперечнике, острый и сильный (Булгаков 10). This all ended with Ivanov finishing the construction of a chamber and actually capturing the red ray in it. And in all justice, it was an expert job: the ray came out thick,-almost four centimeters in diameter-sharp and powerful (10b).

     ♦ Мне приятно было думать, что Зинаида не может, однако, не отдать справедливости моей решимости, моему героизму... (Тургенев 3). I was glad to think that Zinaida could not but recognise my resolution, my heroism (3a).

• ОТДАВАТЬ/ОТДАТЬ ДОЛЖНОЕ кому-чему; ОТДАВАТЬ/ОТДАТЬ (ДОЛЖНУЮ < ПОЛНУЮ> СПРАВЕДЛИВОСТЬ

[VP; subj: human; often infin with надо, нужно; fixed WO]

=====

⇒ to appreciate s.o. or sth., acknowledge s.o.'s merit, abilities, skills etc:

- X отдаёт Y-y должное≈ X gives Y Y's due;

- X has to hand it to Y;

|| надо отдать Y-y должное≈ X has to give person Y credit;

- (Y is...,) you've got to < X must> grant him that;

- in all justice (fairness < to Y>)...;

- [usu. when contrasted with the preceding statement] ... (but) to do Y justice;

- [in limited contexts] let us give credit where credit is due;

     ♦ Гартвиг - человек особый. В чем-то я ему завидовал, за что-то глубоко его презирал... Но, разумеется, и отдавал ему должное: свой предмет он знает великолепно, и, главное, знает то, что нужно знать, и Кирилла натаскал здорово (Трифонов 5). Gartwig was no ordinary individual. There were some things about him I envied, and other things I was deeply contemptuous of....But I did of course give him his due: he knew his subject inside and out, and more to the point, he knew what it was necessary to know and did a fine job of coaching Kirill (5a).

     ♦ Марлен Михайлович... внимательно следил за лицами всей компании... Чаще всего взгляд Марлена Михайловича задерживался на "Видном лице" и всякий раз он отдавал ему должное - никак не проникнешь за эту маску (Аксёнов 7). Marlen Mikhailovich...kept close tabs on the faces of the entire crew....The Important Personage received more than his share of attention, of course, and Marlen Mikhailovich had to hand it to him; that mask of his was impenetrable (7a).

     ♦ Взяв всё это во внимание, Тюфяев, и тут нельзя ему не отдать справедливости, представлял министерству о том, чтоб им дать льготы и отсрочки (Герцен 1). Taking all this into consideration, Tyufayev - and one must give him credit for it - asked the Ministry to grant postponements and exemptions (1a).

     ♦ [Дорн:] Да, её папенька порядочная таки скотина, надо отдать ему полную справедливость (Чехов 6). [D.:] Yes, her papa is rather a beast, I must grant him that (6d).

     ♦ Кончилось всё это тем, что Иванов соорудил камеру и в неё действительно уловил красный луч. И надо отдать справедливость, уловил мастерски: луч вышел жирный, сантиметра 4 в поперечнике, острый и сильный (Булгаков 10). This all ended with Ivanov finishing the construction of a chamber and actually capturing the red ray in it. And in all justice, it was an expert job: the ray came out thick,-almost four centimeters in diameter-sharp and powerful (10b).

     ♦ Мне приятно было думать, что Зинаида не может, однако, не отдать справедливости моей решимости, моему героизму... (Тургенев 3). I was glad to think that Zinaida could not but recognise my resolution, my heroism (3a).

• ОТДАВАТЬ/ОТДАТЬ ДОЛЖНОЕ кому-чему; ОТДАВАТЬ/ОТДАТЬ (ДОЛЖНУЮ < ПОЛНУЮ> СПРАВЕДЛИВОСТЬ

[VP; subj: human; often infin with надо, нужно; fixed WO]

=====

⇒ to appreciate s.o. or sth., acknowledge s.o.'s merit, abilities, skills etc:

- X отдаёт Y-y должное≈ X gives Y Y's due;

- X has to hand it to Y;

|| надо отдать Y-y должное≈ X has to give person Y credit;

- (Y is...,) you've got to < X must> grant him that;

- in all justice (fairness < to Y>)...;

- [usu. when contrasted with the preceding statement] ... (but) to do Y justice;

- [in limited contexts] let us give credit where credit is due;

     ♦ Гартвиг - человек особый. В чем-то я ему завидовал, за что-то глубоко его презирал... Но, разумеется, и отдавал ему должное: свой предмет он знает великолепно, и, главное, знает то, что нужно знать, и Кирилла натаскал здорово (Трифонов 5). Gartwig was no ordinary individual. There were some things about him I envied, and other things I was deeply contemptuous of....But I did of course give him his due: he knew his subject inside and out, and more to the point, he knew what it was necessary to know and did a fine job of coaching Kirill (5a).

     ♦ Марлен Михайлович... внимательно следил за лицами всей компании... Чаще всего взгляд Марлена Михайловича задерживался на "Видном лице" и всякий раз он отдавал ему должное - никак не проникнешь за эту маску (Аксёнов 7). Marlen Mikhailovich...kept close tabs on the faces of the entire crew....The Important Personage received more than his share of attention, of course, and Marlen Mikhailovich had to hand it to him; that mask of his was impenetrable (7a).

     ♦ Взяв всё это во внимание, Тюфяев, и тут нельзя ему не отдать справедливости, представлял министерству о том, чтоб им дать льготы и отсрочки (Герцен 1). Taking all this into consideration, Tyufayev - and one must give him credit for it - asked the Ministry to grant postponements and exemptions (1a).

     ♦ [Дорн:] Да, её папенька порядочная таки скотина, надо отдать ему полную справедливость (Чехов 6). [D.:] Yes, her papa is rather a beast, I must grant him that (6d).

     ♦ Кончилось всё это тем, что Иванов соорудил камеру и в неё действительно уловил красный луч. И надо отдать справедливость, уловил мастерски: луч вышел жирный, сантиметра 4 в поперечнике, острый и сильный (Булгаков 10). This all ended with Ivanov finishing the construction of a chamber and actually capturing the red ray in it. And in all justice, it was an expert job: the ray came out thick,-almost four centimeters in diameter-sharp and powerful (10b).

     ♦ Мне приятно было думать, что Зинаида не может, однако, не отдать справедливости моей решимости, моему героизму... (Тургенев 3). I was glad to think that Zinaida could not but recognise my resolution, my heroism (3a).

1 a sage, a wise person.

2 wise woman, learned person, learned woman, sage.

* * *

* * *

1ª persona singular (yo) imperfecto indicativo

3ª persona singular (él/ella/usted) imperfecto indicativo

◊ una persona de gran sabia a person of great learning

a) ‹nombre/dirección/canción› to know;

◊ ya lo sé I know;

b) ( enterarse) to find out;

◊ lo supe por mi hermana I found out about it through my sister;

◊ sabia hacer algo to know how to do sth;

a) ( tener conocimiento) to know;

◊ ¿quién sabe? who knows?;

b) (tener noticias, enterarse):

◊ no sé nada de ella desde hace más de un mes I haven't heard from her for over a month;

a) ( tener sabor) (+ compl) to taste;

◊ sabe dulce/bien it tastes sweet/nice;

b) ( causar cierta impresión): me sabe mal or no me sabe bien tener que decírselo I don't like having to tell him

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I adj

1 wise

2 ( sensato) sensible

II m, sabia f

1 wise person

2 ( experto) expert

I P.P. entscheiden

1. (entschlossen) determined, resolute; Verfechter, Gegner etc.: auch strong, uncompromising

2. (nachdrücklich) emphatic, decided, uncompromising, categorical; (brüsk) peremptory; (respekteinflößend) authoritative

3. (ausgesprochen) attr. decided, out-and-out; (unbestreitbar) unquestionable; ein entschiedener Gegner von a declared opponent ( oder enemy) of

1. (fest) firmly, resolutely; (nachdrücklich) emphatically; (brüsk) peremptorily; ( ganz) entschieden oder auf das Entschiedenste ablehnen flatly refuse, refuse outright, turn s.th. down flat; etw. ganz entschieden bestreiten / zurückweisen strongly ( oder vigorously) dispute s.th. / categorically ( oder flatly) reject s.th., reject s.th. outright; sich entschieden aussprechen für / gegen come out strongly in favo(u)r of / against

2. (zweifellos) definitely, without (a) doubt, decidedly, distinctly meist iro.; entschieden zu wenig etc. auch far too little etc.

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resolute; decided; peremptory; decisive

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1. ptp

2. adj

1) (= entschlossen) determined, resolute; Befürworter staunch; Ablehnung firm

2) no pred (= eindeutig) decided, distinct

3. adv

1) (= strikt) ablehnen firmly; bekämpfen resolutely; von sich weisen, zurückweisen staunchly

2) (= eindeutig) definitely

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I. pp von entscheiden

II. adj

1. (entschlossen) determined, resolute

ein \entschiedener Befürworter a staunch supporter

ein \entschiedener Gegner a resolute opponent

2. (eindeutig) definite

III. adv

1. (entschlossen) firmly, resolutely

den Vorschlag lehne ich ganz \entschieden ab I categorically reject the proposal

2. (eindeutig) definitely

diesmal bist du \entschieden zu weit gegangen this time you've definitely gone too far

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1) (entschlossen) determined; resolute

2) (eindeutig) definite

adverbial resolutely

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A. pperf → entscheiden

B. adj

1. (entschlossen) determined, resolute; Verfechter, Gegner etc: auch strong, uncompromising

2. (nachdrücklich) emphatic, decided, uncompromising, categorical; (brüsk) peremptory; (Respekt einflößend) authoritative

3. (ausgesprochen) attr decided, out-and-out; (unbestreitbar) unquestionable;

ein entschiedener Gegner von a declared opponent ( oder enemy) of

C. adv

1. (fest) firmly, resolutely; (nachdrücklich) emphatically; (brüsk) peremptorily;

(ganz) entschieden oder

auf das Entschiedenste ablehnen flatly refuse, refuse outright, turn sth down flat;

etwas ganz entschieden bestreiten/zurückweisen strongly ( oder vigorously) dispute sth/categorically ( oder flatly) reject sth, reject sth outright;

sich entschieden aussprechen für/gegen come out strongly in favo(u)r of/against

2. (zweifellos) definitely, without (a) doubt, decidedly, distinctly meist iron;

entschieden zu wenig etc auch far too little etc

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1) (entschlossen) determined; resolute

2) (eindeutig) definite

adverbial resolutely

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peremptory adj. adv.

peremptorily adv.

resolutely adv.

vb pretend, claim ( fx I do not pretend (el. claim) to be an expert);

(F: med sb) pretend to ( fx I don't pretend to a complete knowledge of the subject).

SUBJECT AREA: Ports and shipping

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Lobnitz was the son of Henry Christian Lobnitz. His father was born in Denmark in 1831, and had worked for some years in both England and Scotland before becoming a naturalized British subject. Ultimately Henry joined the Clyde shipyard of James Henderson \& Son and worked there until his death, by which time he was sole proprietor and the yard was called Lobnitz \& Co. By this time the shipyard was the acknowledged world leader in rock-cutting machinery.

Frederick was given the opportunity to travel in Europe during the late 1870s and early 1880s. He studied at Bonn, Heidelberg and at the Zurich Polytechnic, and also served an apprenticeship at the Fairfield Shipyard of John Elder \& Co. of Glasgow. One of his first tasks was to supervise the construction and commissioning of a subaqueous rock excavator, and then he was asked to direct rock excavations at the Suez Canal.

In 1888 Frederick Lobnitz was made a partner of the company by his father and was to remain with them until his death, at which time he was Chairman. By this time the shipyard was a private limited company and had continued to enhance its name in the specialized field of dredging. At that time the two greatest dredge builders in the world (and deadly rivals) were situated next to each other on the banks of the Clyde at Renfrew; in 1957 they merged as Simons-Lobnitz Ltd. In 1915 Lobnitz was appointed Deputy Director for Munitions in Scotland and one year later he became Director, a post he held until 1919. Having investigated the running of munitions factories in France, he released scarce labour for the war effort by staffing the plants under his control with female and unskilled labour.

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SUBJECT AREA: Civil engineering, Domestic appliances and interiors, Land transport, Mechanical, pneumatic and hydraulic engineering, Public utilities

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Bramah was the son of a tenant farmer and was educated at the village school before being apprenticed to a local carpenter, Thomas Allot. He walked to London c.1773 and found work with a Mr Allen that included the repair of some of the comparatively rare water-closets of the period. He invented and patented one of his own, which was followed by a water cock in 1783. His next invention, a greatly improved lock, involved the devising of a number of special machine tools, for it was one of the first devices involving interchangeable components in its manufacture. In this he had the help of Henry Maudslay, then a young and unknown engineer, who became Bramah's foreman before setting up business on his own. In 1784 he moved his premises from Denmark Street, St Giles, to 124 Piccadilly, which was later used as a showroom when he set up a factory in Pimlico. He invented an engine for putting out fires in 1785 and 1793, in effect a reciprocating rotary-vane pump. He undertook the refurbishment and modernization of Norwich waterworks c.1793, but fell out with Robert Mylne, who was acting as Consultant to the Norwich Corporation and had produced a remarkably vague specification. This was Bramah's only venture into the field of civil engineering.

In 1797 he acted as an expert witness for Hornblower \& Maberley in the patent infringement case brought against them by Boulton and Watt. Having been cut short by the judge, he published his proposed evidence in "Letter to the Rt Hon. Sir James Eyre, Lord Chief Justice of the Common Pleas…etc". In 1795 he was granted his most important patent, based on Pascal's Hydrostatic Paradox, for the hydraulic press which also incorporated the concept of hydraulics for the transmission of both power and motion and was the foundation of the whole subsequent hydraulic industry. There is no truth in the oft-repeated assertion originating from Samuel Smiles's Industrial Biography (1863) that the hydraulic press could not be made to work until Henry Maudslay invented the self-sealing neck leather. Bramah used a single-acting upstroking ram, sealed only at its base with a U-leather. There was no need for a neck leather.

He also used the concept of the weight-loaded, in this case as a public-house beer-engine. He devised machinery for carbonating soda water. The first banknote-numbering machine was of his design and was bought by the Bank of England. His development of a machine to cut twelve nibs from one goose quill started a patent specification which ended with the invention of the fountain pen, patented in 1809. His coach brakes were an innovation that was followed bv a form of hydropneumatic carriage suspension that was somewhat in advance of its time, as was his patent of 1812. This foresaw the introduction of hydraulic power mains in major cities and included the telescopic ram and the air-loaded accumulator.

In all Joseph Bramah was granted eighteen patents. On 22 March 1813 he demonstrated a hydraulic machine for pulling up trees by the roots in Hyde Park before a large crowd headed by the Duke of York. Using the same machine in Alice Holt Forest in Hampshire to fell timber for ships for the Navy, he caught a chill and died soon after at his home in Pimlico.

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SUBJECT AREA: Land transport, Mining and extraction technology, Railways and locomotives

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The son of a "coal viewer", Curr was brought up in the West Durham colliery district. In 1777 he went to the Duke of Norfolk's collieries at Sheffield, where in 1880 he was appointed Superintendent. There coal was conveyed underground in baskets on sledges: Curr replaced the wicker sledges with wheeled corves, i.e. small four-wheeled wooden wagons, running on "rail-roads" with cast-iron rails and hauled from the coal-face to the shaft bottom by horses. The rails employed hitherto had usually consisted of plates of iron, the flange being on the wheels of the wagon. Curr's new design involved flanges on the rails which guided the vehicles, the wheels of which were unflanged and could run on any hard surface. He appears to have left no precise record of the date that he did this, and surviving records have been interpreted as implying various dates between 1776 and 1787. In 1787 John Buddle paid tribute to the efficiency of the rails of Curr's type, which were first used for surface transport by Joseph Butler in 1788 at his iron furnace at Wingerworth near Chesterfield: their use was then promoted widely by Benjamin Outram, and they were adopted in many other English mines. They proved serviceable until the advent of locomotives demanded different rails.

In 1788 Curr also developed a system for drawing a full corve up a mine shaft while lowering an empty one, with guides to separate them. At the surface the corves were automatically emptied by tipplers. Four years later he was awarded a patent for using double ropes for lifting heavier loads. As the weight of the rope itself became a considerable problem with the increasing depth of the shafts, Curr invented the flat hemp rope, patented in 1798, which consisted of several small round ropes stitched together and lapped upon itself in winding. It acted as a counterbalance and led to a reduction in the time and cost of hoisting: at the beginning of a run the loaded rope began to coil upon a small diameter, gradually increasing, while the unloaded rope began to coil off a large diameter, gradually decreasing.

Curr's book The Coal Viewer (1797) is the earliest-known engineering work on railway track and it also contains the most elaborate description of a Newcomen pumping engine, at the highest state of its development. He became an acknowledged expert on construction of Newcomen-type atmospheric engines, and in 1792 he established a foundry to make parts for railways and engines.

Because of the poor financial results of the Duke of Norfolk's collieries at the end of the century, Curr was dismissed in 1801 despite numerous inventions and improvements which he had introduced. After his dismissal, six more of his patents were concerned with rope-making: the one he gained in 1813 referred to the application of flat ropes to horse-gins and perpendicular drum-shafts of steam engines. Curr also introduced the use of inclined planes, where a descending train of full corves pulled up an empty one, and he was one of the pioneers employing fixed steam engines for hauling. He may have resided in France for some time before his death.

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WK / PJGR

SUBJECT AREA: Ports and shipping

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Davis was the son of a detective with the City of London police. At the age of 11 he entered the employment of Siebe, Gorman \& Co., manufacturers of diving and other safety equipment since 1819, at their Lambeth works. By good fortune, his neat handwriting attracted the notice of Mr Gorman and he was transferred to work in the office. He studied hard after working hours and rose steadily in the firm. In his twenties he was promoted to Assistant Manager, then General Manager, Managing Director and finally Governing Director. He retired in 1960, having been made Life President the previous year, and continued to attend the office regularly until May 1964.

Davis's entire career was devoted to research and development in the firm's special field. In 1906 he perfected the first practicable oxygen-breathing apparatus for use in mine rescue; it was widely adopted and with modifications was still in use in the 1990s. With Professor Leonard Hill he designed a deep-sea diving-bell incorporating a decompression chamber. He also invented an oxygen-breathing apparatus and heated apparel for airmen flying at high altitudes.

Immediately after the first German gas attacks on the Western Front in April 1915, Davis devised a respirator, known as the stocking skene or veil mask. He quickly organized the mass manufacture of this device, roping in members of his family and placing the work in the homes of Lambeth: within 48 hours the first consignment was being sent off to France.

He was a member of the Admiralty Deep Sea Diving Committee, which in 1933 completed tables for the safe ascent of divers with oxygen from a depth of 300 ft (91 m). They were compiled by Davis in conjunction with Professors J.B.S.Haldane and Leonard Hill and Captain G.C.Damant, the Royal Navy's leading diving expert. With revisions these tables have been used by the Navy ever since. Davis's best-known invention was first used in 1929: the Davis Submarine Escape Apparatus. It became standard equipment on submarines until it was replaced by the Built-in Breathing System, which the firm began manufacturing in 1951.

The firm's works were bombed during the Second World War and were re-established at Chessington, Surrey. The extensive research facilities there were placed at the disposal of the Royal Navy and the Admiralty Experimental Diving Unit. Davis worked with Haldane and Hill on problems of the underwater physiology of working divers. A number of inventions issued from Chessington, such as the human torpedo, midget submarine and human minesweeper. In the early 1950s the firm helped to pioneer the use of underwater television to investigate the sinking of the submarine Affray and the crashed Comet jet airliners.

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SUBJECT AREA: Electricity, Electronics and information technology, Public utilities

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After attending Owens College, Manchester, Hopkinson was admitted to Trinity College, Cambridge, in 1867 to read for the Mathematical Tripos. An appointment in 1872 with the lighthouse department of the Chance Optical Works in Birmingham directed his attention to electrical engineering. His most noteworthy contribution to lighthouse engineering was an optical system to produce flashing lights that distinguished between individual beacons. His extensive researches on the dielectric properties of glass were recognized when he was elected to a Fellowship of the Royal Society at the age of 29. Moving to London in 1877 he became established as a consulting engineer at a time when electricity supply was about to begin on a commercial scale. During the remainder of his life, Hopkinson's researches resulted in fundamental contributions to electrical engineering practice, dynamo design and alternating current machine theory. In making a critical study of the Edison dynamo he developed the principle of the magnetic circuit, a concept also arrived at by Gisbert Kapp around the same time. Hopkinson's improvement of the Edison dynamo by reducing the length of the field magnets almost doubled its output. In 1890, in addition to-his consulting practice, Hopkinson accepted a post as the first Professor of Electrical Engineering and Head of the Siemens laboratory recently established at King's College, London. Although he was not involved in lecturing, the position gave him the necessary facilities and staff and student assistance to continue his researches. Hopkinson was consulted on many proposals for electric traction and electricity supply, including schemes in London, Manchester, Liverpool and Leeds. He also advised Mather and Platt when they were acting as contractors for the locomotives and generating plant for the City and South London tube railway. As early as 1882 he considered that an ideal method of charging for the supply of electricity should be based on a two-part tariff, with a charge related to maximum demand together with a charge for energy supplied. Hopkinson was one the foremost expert witnesses of his day in patent actions and was himself the patentee of over forty inventions, of which the three-wire system of distribution and the series-parallel connection of traction motors were his most successful. Jointly with his brother Edward, John Hopkinson communicated the outcome of his investigations to the Royal Society in a paper entitled "Dynamo Electric Machinery" in 1886. In this he also described the later widely used "back to back" test for determining the characteristics of two identical machines. His interest in electrical machines led him to more fundamental research on magnetic materials, including the phenomenon of recalescence and the disappearance of magnetism at a well-defined temperature. For his work on the magnetic properties of iron, in 1890 he was awarded the Royal Society Royal Medal. He was a member of the Alpine Club and a pioneer of rock climbing in Britain; he died, together with three of his children, in a climbing accident.

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