Editing John Rennie the Elder (section)

==Plymouth breakwater==
[[File:Plymouth Breakwater from above Kingsand.jpg|thumb|Plymouth breakwater, viewed from above Kingsand]]
Of all Rennie's works, that which appeals most strongly to the imagination is perhaps the [[Plymouth Breakwater|breakwater]] at [[Plymouth Sound]], consisting of a wall a mile in length across the Sound, in about {{convert|20|m|ft}} of water,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.submerged.co.uk/plymouthbreakwater-building.php |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191218141016/https://www.submerged.co.uk/plymouthbreakwater-building/ |archive-date=18 December 2019 |url-status=live |title=The Plymouth Breakwater – Submerged}}</ref> and containing 3,670,444&nbsp;tons of rough stone, besides {{convert|22149|cuyd|m3}} of masonry on the surface. It was constructed to provide safe passage for naval vessels entering the river Tamar ([[Hamoaze]]) at Devonport. This colossal work was first proposed in a report by Rennie, dated 22 April 1806; an order in council authorising its commencement was issued on 22 June 1811, and the first stone was deposited on 12 August following. The work was completed by his son, Sir John Rennie, and by [[Joseph Whidbey]].