THOMAS TELFORD

Thomas Telford was a Scottish civil engineer

and architect, famously dubbed as the
Colossus of Roads. He was a trained
stonemason and a noted builder of roads,
bridges and canals. He came from a very
poor family and went on to become the
godfather of civil engineering. His vision and
creativity were the prime factors behind the
architecture of bridges, roads and canals of
the 18th century. His designing supremacy
was unmatchable and he created some of
the finest roads and bridges. He introduced
the concept of suspension bridge and also
experimented with cast iron to construct the
bridges. He was one of the kep people
behind the formation of Institution of Civil
Engineers and also served as its first President. His constructions established
connections among different people and their cultures. People were able to migrate from
one place to another through roads and bridges so as to earn a living and lead a better
life. He was a visionary who managed to look ahead of his time. He will always be
remembered for his magnificent expertise and significant contribution towards the
progress of mankind.

Childhood & Early Life

He was born on August 9, 1757 at Glendinning, a hill farm in Eskdale, Dumfriesshire
to John Telford, a shepherd and Janet Jackson, a homemaker. He was the only son
as his brother died in infancy.
Soon after his birth, his father died leaving them in a state of homelessness and
poverty. They took shelter in a relatives house and he started working at the age of
14 as an apprentice.
He took an apprenticeship as a stonemason in Langholm and helped in building
roads and farmhouses in Edinburgh town. Despite his exhausting work for long hours
in day, he used to read about construction at night.

Career
In 1782, he moved to London in search of work. He met an architect, Sir William
Chambers, who was working on Somerset House. Sir William was impressed by his
knowledge of construction and involved him in designing it.
In 1784, he worked at Portsmouth dockyard as the manager and increased his
knowledge on design and management regarding construction projects. He emerged
as a sincere disciple of civil engineering from there onwards.
He was appointed to work on renovation of Shrewsbury Castle by his childhood friend
and a wealthy man, William Pulteney in 1787. Upon completing his project, William
was impressed by his work and made him the Surveyor of Public Works for the
Country of Shropshire.
In 1790, he designed the Montford Stone Bridge over the River Severn, one of the
40 bridges he built in Shropshire. It was completed in 1792 earning him the reputation
of one of the greatest civil engineers in Britain.
He used iron as the material for construction of the bridge at Buildwas. It was his first
attempt at using the metal for this purpose and he managed to create a solid bridge
with iron which also amplified his reputation as an engineer.
In 1793, he was appointed as an engineer of Ellesmere Canal which was completed
over a span of ten years.
In 1803, he returned to Scotland and took up the work of constructing Calenodian
Canal for helping the people of his homeland. It took over a decade to complete and
was an engineering success but a commercial failure because it was not large
enough to carry steam ships.
In 1819, he proposed the design for Menai Suspension Bridge which was completed
in 1826.
In 1820, he became the President of Institution of Civil Engineers, a post which he
held for 14 long years until he died.

Major Works
Ellesmere Canal construction which started in 1793 proved to be one of his greatest
engineering marvels.
He pioneered the use of iron in construction of bridges. On Shrewsbury Canal
project, he designed the cast-iron aqueduct at Longdon-on-Tern which was
considered one of the greatest achievements of the era.
His notable works also include the construction and renovation of roads which he
undertook as the supervisor and architect. He rebuilt the sections of the London to
Holyhead road, designed the String Road for the Isle of Arran and improved the
Glasgow-Carlisle Road which was described as a model for future engineers.
In 1819, he designed the Menai Suspension Bridge which was the longest
suspension bridge of the time and one of his most notable achievements.
Awards & Achievements
In 1821, Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences elected him as a foreign member.
In 1968, a new town in Shropshire was named Telford in his honor.
Edinburgh Telford College which was opened in 1968 was also named after him
until October 2012, when it was renamed as Edinburgh College.
In 2011, he was one of the seven inaugural inductees to the Scottish Engineering
Hall of Fame.

Personal Life & Legacy

He never got married and had no children.
He was nicknamed as the Colossus of Roads by his friend Robert Southey, a poet,
because of his numerous constructions of roads and bridges.
He also published poetry between 1779 and 1784 but was not able to gain popularity
as a poet.
He died peacefully on September 2, 1834 at his home in London.

Trivia
In 1788, this famous civil engineer was called to inspect a leaking roof of one of the
churches in Shrewsbury, St. Chads Church. He suggested the immediate danger of
its collapse and within three days, the church collapsed and he gained his reputation
as a skilled engineer and architect in the town.

Conclusion:
He was a multi-skilled man whose genius made of his major works left a legacy in civil
engineering. Thomas Telford made exceptional proposals in design and engineering that
crafted the path for current inventions in this field, and we are pretty sure, that his
contributions will keep inspiring engineers in the future.
 JAMES WATT
James Watt was a Scottish engineer and
instrument maker, who is known for his invention
of the first modern steam engine. He modified the
Newcomen steam engine to increase its efficiency
through his creative thinking and scientific
knowledge of instrument design. He learned
writing, arithmetic and geometry in his childhood
along with the craft of instrument making, which he
later pursued as a career to achieve great heights.
One of his greatest strengths was that he was a
quick learner, which transformed him from an
apprentice to a skilled professional in very less
time as compared to other people. He faced a lot
of poverty as he was vastly in debt and was not
allowed to work as a professional initially.
Eventually, he became a successful and famous inventor through some of his finest
works including the steam engine, rotary engine and copying system. His vast knowledge
of mechanical engineering, leading the way for the future generations, also symbolized
his mark in history as one of the most celebrated scientists of all time. He also developed
the concept of Horsepower and the S.I. unit of power, Watt, is named after him. He was
married twice and had seven children, but unfortunately only one of his children lived
beyond the age of 30.

Childhood & Early Life

James was born on 19 January, 1736 in Greenock, Renfrewshire to Agnes Muirhead,
a well educated women and her husband, James Watt, who was a shipwright and
contractor with a well established business. He had a brother, John, who died at an
early age.
He was not a healthy child and suffered from toothaches and migraines in his
childhood. Due to this medical condition, he was unable to attend school regularly
and was mostly taught at home by his parents.
His mother taught him reading while his father taught him arithmetic and writing. He
loved to operate on a small toolkit in his fathers workshop, assembling different
objects for designing various models. In this way, he was attracted to the skill of
crafting instruments.
During his teenage years his father lost his inheritance due to commercial disasters
and his mother died. In the mean time, he decided to pursue a career in mathematical
instrument making.

Career
In 1754, he went to Glasgow and got acquainted with Robert Dick through one of his
relatives working at Glasgow University. Robert encouraged him to master the skill
of instrument making by working as an apprentice in London.
In 1755, he met John Morgan, an instrument maker who agreed to teach him the art
of instrument making with a little pay. He worked for long hours continuously in the
cold workshop, due to which his health declined. His abilities surpassed Johns other
apprentices and he was able to complete his tenure in one year, which normally
extended up to seven years.
After his training, he returned to Glasgow in 1756 to start his own business of
mathematical instrument making, but faced opposition from local tradesmen as he
was an outsider to them after being trained in London. They shunned his credentials
and training.
In 1757, with the help of his friends at the Glasgow University he opened a shop in
the university campus and was appointed as the Mathematical Instrument Maker to
the University. He was made in-charge of the new astronomical instruments which
required special attention.
In 1758, while he used to study and repair scientific instruments at the university, he
became friends with some of its professors. In addition to that he formed a
partnership with John Craig, a businessman who helped him to open a shop in
Glasgow and sell musical instruments.
In 1763, the most crucial moment of his life arrived, when a professor brought his
attention to a Newcomen steam engine that was not working properly. This
challenged his creativity and scientific knowledge, and he set upon finding a solution
for it through his instrument making skills.
After a study of two years, in 1765 he devised a unique way to modify the engine to
improve its working which led to the invention of the steam engine. To this day, it is
considered as one of the greatest achievements of all times.
Over the years he improved the working of steam engine through his revolutionary
ideas and inventive thinking. He also developed a copying machine and patented his
discoveries with the help of his partner Matthew Boulton, an industrialist and a
visionary.

Major Works
From 1763 to 1765, he investigated the Newcomen engine and found loopholes in
it, which were needed to be rectified for its proper working. He suggested a separate
condenser connected with the engine, his first and greatest invention, where the
steam from the engine would be collected for condensation. It would prevent the loss
of latent heat and increase its working efficiency.
In 1768, he entered into a partnership with John Roebuck, who urged him to make a
steam engine which he did. The following year Watt took out the famous patent for
A New Invented Method of Lessening the Consumption of Steam and Fuel in Fire
Engines.
From 1780 to 1790, he invented numerous techniques to improve the working of
steam engine and patented them. This includes rotary motion, double acting engine,
parallel motion and invention of pressure gauge.

Awards & Achievements

In 1784, he was elected as a member of the Royal Society of Edinburgh.
In 1787, he was elected as a member of the Batavian Society for Experimental
Philosophy in Rotterdam.
In 1806, he was conferred the honorary Doctor of Laws by the University of Glasgow.
In 1960, the 11th General Conference on Weights and Measures incorporated watt
as the unit of power in International System of Units.

Personal Life & Legacy

In 1764, he married his cousin Margaret Miller, with whom he had five children, but
only one of them lived beyond the age of 30. His wife died in childbirth in 1772.
In 1777, he was remarried to Ann Macgregor, daughter of a Glasgow dye-maker.
They had two children, who also died at young ages.
After his retirement in 1800, he traveled to France and Germany with his second wife.
He also revisited his hometown of Greenock in 1816.
He died on 25 August, 1819 at his house in England, at the age of 83.

Trivia
He once quoted that he would rather face a loaded cannon than settle an account
or make a bargain, which establishes the fact that he was not a businessman, but
an inventor.
This great inventors name is marked on every light bulb around the world.

Conclusion:
His great inventions and proposals made of James Watt one of the most famous civil
engineers in history. He was a great inventor and the proof is found in his creations that
shaped history as we know it.

EMILY WARREN ROEBLING

Emily Warren Roebling was a female engineer
largely responsible for guiding construction of
the Brooklyn Bridge. She was married to
Washington Roebling, a civil engineer, who
was Chief Engineer during the construction of
the Brooklyn Bridge. In order to help her
husband in his work, she extensively studied
civil engineering topics like strength of
materials, stress analysis, and cable
construction. She had some prior interest and
knowledge about bridge construction even
before her husband's appointment as Chief
Engineer. Her knowledge about the subject
came in handy when her husband became ill
with caisson disease. As the disease
progressed, he became increasingly disabled,
forcing Emily to fulfill most of his engineering
duties in the construction of the bridge. Along with her husband, she jointly planned the
bridge's continued construction, and actively managed the day-to-day construction
activities. Over the course of the work, she engaged with politicians, engineers, and
others associated with the bridge and was recognized as the engineer largely responsible
for guiding construction of the Brooklyn Bridge. For years she remained busy in
overseeing the work on the bridge, and served as an effective spokesperson on behalf
of her husband. She also attended conferences and meetings on her husbands behalf
and became the first woman to formally address the American Society of Civil Engineers.

Childhood & Early Life

Emily Warren was born on September 23, 1843, to Sylvanus and Phebe Warren at
Cold Spring, New York, as the second youngest of the couples 12 children. Her
father was a state assemblyman and town supervisor. She was especially close to
her older brother Gouverneur K. Warren.
Intelligent and curious from a young age, she loved to learn and wanted to pursue a
formal education. She was educated at a convent school in Washington and was
fully supported by her older brother in her intellectual pursuits.

Later Years
Eventually her brother graduated from the United States Military Academy at West
Point, and became a corps commander in the Union army during the American Civil
War. Emily met and married Washington Roebling, an engineering officer on her
brothers staff.
Emilys father-in-law John Augustus Roebling, a prominent civil engineer, designed
the Brooklyn Bridge. As he began work on it, Emily and her engineer husband went
to Europe to study the use of caissons for the bridge.
Meanwhile, her father-in-law sustained a crush injury to his foot in a freak accident
when a ferry pinned it against a piling. The amputation of his crushed toes resulted
in a tetanus infection due to which his health deteriorated quickly. Realizing that he
would not survive, he appointed Washington Roebling in charge of the project.
After his fathers death, Washington took over the project and immersed himself in it.
During his work, he developed caisson disease which progressed quickly and left
him bed-ridden. At this point, Emily began taking up more responsibility of the bridge
work to help her husband.
An intelligent and well-read woman, she already had basic knowledge about
construction of bridges. Now she began reading more about the subject and gained
extensive knowledge on topics like strength of materials, stress analysis, and cable
construction.
She actively became involved in the construction of the bridge, taking over much of
the chief engineer's duties. She supervised the day-to-day operations and planned
the bridge's continued construction jointly with her husband. The responsibility of
dealing with politicians and others associated with the bridge also fell upon her.
In 1882, questions were raised regarding Washingtons capability to serve as the
Chief Engineer. During this time Emily became her husbands spokesperson and
attended gatherings on his behalf, becoming the first woman to formally address the
American Society of Civil Engineers.
Impressed by her works, the politicians retained Washington as the Chief Engineer
of the Brooklyn Bridge which was finally completed in 1883. Before the bridges grand
opening, she rode the first carriage across from the Brooklyn side, carrying a rooster
as a symbol of victory.
After the completion of the bridge she became active in various social and
philanthropic organizations such as the Relief Society and the Daughters of the
American Revolution. She also served on the Board of Lady Managers for New
Jersey at the World's Columbian Exposition.
A learner till the very end, she received a certificate in business law from the
Womans Law Class at New York University in 1899. In addition, she traveled and
lectured widely until her death.

Major Works
Emily Warren Roebling is
known for her contribution
towards the construction of the
Brooklyn Bridge which connects
the boroughs of Manhattan and
Brooklyn by spanning the East
River. Considered an icon of
New York City, the bridge was
designated a National Historic
Civil Engineering Landmark in
1972.

Personal Life & Legacy

Emilys brother was serving with the Fifth Army Corps during the American Civil War.
While visiting him in 1864, she met Washington Roebling who worked on her
brothers staff. The two fell in love and tied the knot on January 18, 1865. This
marriage resulted in the birth of one son.
She was a wide traveler and lived an active life till the very end. She died on February
28, 1903.

Conclusion:
She was a very talented civil engineer who left a footprint in this career. His major
work, including the great execution of the Brooklyn Bridge, are a proof of her talent
and genius. Identifically to other engineers in this listing, she is a source of inspiration
even nowadays.

JOHN SMEATON
 John Smeaton was an English
engineer and a physicist, famously
known as the Father of Civil
Engineering. He was a master at his
work and a self-proclaimed Civil
Engineer, an eminent forerunner of
his profession. Although initially he
pursued the legal profession like his
father, later he decided to be an
instrument maker. He gained most of
his training and scientific knowledge
through reading and attending the
meetings of Royal Society of London.
He constructed bridges, canals and
harbors in addition to his works of
mechanical engineering. He devised
new ways for construction; whether it was the material he used for building or the
technique to strengthen the rigidity of the object. Through his dedication and genuine
efforts, his every project emerged as a masterpiece, a passionate work of art. He
transformed the work of engineering, which was considered as a handicraft work, to a
scientific process of experimenting and devising mechanisms in architectural work. He
was the first person to coin the term civil engineers and also established the first ever
engineering society in the world. His earnest work is an inspiration for everyone; to be
fearless of the choices they make in life and work with dedication for their dreams to
come true.

Childhood & Early Life

He was born on June 8, 1724 in Austhorpe, Leeds, England. His father was an
attorney having a law firm.
In childhood, he used to make hand tools through forging and casting. He made a
small lathe for turning wood and also a steam engine which succeeded in pumping
out water from his fathers pond.
At the age of 16, his father persuaded him to join his law firm. He started legal studies
at his fathers office. Two years later, he was about to enter the legal profession
formally when he decided to leave it and pursue his dream of being an instrument
maker.

Career
In 1748, he opened his own shop in Great Turnstile in London with a little knowledge
of science and tool-making under his sleeve. His friend, Henry Hindley, helped him
to understand the art of making instruments.
In 1750, he collaborated with Dr. Gowin Knight to develop a mariners compass,
which later became a Royal Navy standard issue. Along with the compass, he also
invented a prototype machine to measure the speed of ships, which was not very
accurate in heavy seas.
In 1751, he moved his shop from Great Turnstile to a larger place in Furnival Inn
Court and employed three craftsmen under his supervision.
In 1752, he conducted some experiments related to power of windmills and water
wheels which were successful and proved his expertise in the knowledge of science
and engineering.
In 1756, he was chosen to build the new lighthouse for Eddystone Rocks near
Plymouth, England. It was his first and one of his most acknowledged engineering
projects.
In 1759, he published a paper concerned with watermills, the major source of power
at that time. His work was honored with the Copley Award.
In 1760, he showed his mechanical engineering skills and developed a water
pressure engine that pumped water which was later superseded by James Watts
steam engine. He also developed a pyrometer to study material expansion
During his professional career, he engineered the construction of various canals,
bridges and harbors including the Coldstream Bridge, Ripon Canal, Aberdeen
Bridge, Peterhead Harbour and Forth and Clyde Canal in Scotland. He also
contributed in building 43 mills including his most significant one at Carron Company
ironworks in 1769.
In 1782, he built the Chimney Mill at Spital Tongues in Newcastle upon Tyne, the
first 5-sailed smock mill in Britain. He is also recognized for improving the Edmund
Halleys diving bell by adding an air pump to it, so that it can be used underwater as
well.
He was member of Lunar Society and a co-founder of the Society of Civil Engineers
in 1771 which was renamed Institution of Civil Engineers in 1818.
From 1759 to 1782, he conducted some experiments which supported the theory of
formulation of conservation of energy by Gottfried Leibniz. But his discovery was
opposed by followers of Isaac Newton, who believed his formulation was inconsistent
with Newtons theory of conservation of momentum.

Major Works
One of his most notable works is of the construction of the lighthouse on Eddystone
Rocks from 1756 to 1759. After the destruction of two previous lighthouses due to
storms, he was selected to construct a rigid one which he did successfully. He was
the first to use hydraulic lime for its steady foundation and also developed a
technique involving dovetailed blocks of granite for its construction.
In 1759, he published a paper An Experimental Enquiry Concerning the Natural
Powers of Water and Wind to Turn Mills and Other Machines Depending on Circular
Motion addressing the relationship between pressure and velocity for objects moving
in air and his concepts were subsequently developed to devise the 'Smeaton
Coefficient'.
He coined the term civil engineers to distinguish them from military engineers of that
time and was also a co-founder of Society of Civil Engineers in 1771.
Awards & Achievements
In 1753, he became a Fellow of the Royal Society through his published papers on
instrument making.
He was honored with the Copley Award in 1759 for his extraordinary research in the
mechanics of waterwheels and windmills.
In 1834, the Society of Civil Engineers, which he was a co-founder of, was renamed
as the Smeatonian Society of Civil Engineers in his honor.

Personal Life & Legacy

He never married and had no children.
He died on October 28, 1792 due to a stroke. He was buried in the parish church at
Whitkirk, West Yorkshire.
He was a great personality who encouraged the emerging talents of his time. His
pupils included canal engineer William Jessop and architect Benjamin Latrobe.

Conclusion:
His life was filled with great accomplishments. His contributions to civil engineering
remain valid until our days, and furthermore, he remains an inspiration. His major
works are a proof of his talent and we all can learn several things from him.
THOMAS BRASSEY
Thomas Brassey was the 19th century civil
engineering contractor who built much of the
worlds railways during his time, including one-
sixth of the railway network in Britain and over
half of the French railways. He was
responsible for building major lines in several
other countries all over the world including
Canada, South America, Australia and India.
As a railway engineering contractor, he also
built several docks, stations, bridges and
tunnels. He made an early venture into the field
of civil engineering when at 16 he became an
apprentice to a land surveyor and agent. As a
teenager he also met the renowned civil
engineer, Thomas Telford, who left a great
impact on the youth. A bright young man,
Brassey was just 21 when he formed a
partnership with his past mentor, William
Lawton. Their business flourished and laid the foundation for Brasseys glorious future
works. His first railway work was building the Penkridge Viaduct which he completed
successfully. Following the success of this work, he began to gain popularity and easily
won contracts to build several other railway networks. After becoming a prominent civil
engineer in his native Britain, he started accepting work outside the country. Eventually
he became a very rich and successful professional, and died as "one of the wealthiest of
the self-made Victorians".

Childhood & Early Life

He was born on November 7, 1805 as the eldest child of John and Elizabeth Brassey.
He had two brothers and a sister. He was educated at home till he was 12 and then
sent to The Kings School in Chester.
He became an apprentice to a land surveyor and agent called William Lawton when
he was 16. During his apprenticeship he helped to survey the new Shrewsbury to
Holyhead road. His apprenticeship ended when he was 21.

Career
Brassey was a very talented and intelligent young man and Lawton was much
impressed by him. Lawton took him as a partner and formed the company Lawton
and Brassey.
The business thrived and expanded beyond land surveying. Soon they were
managing stone and sand quarries, and also operating a brick kiln. After Lawtons
death Brassey became the sole proprietor of the flourishing business.
Encouraged by his wife and friends he submitted a tender to build the Dutton Viaduct
on the Grand Junction Railway, but lost it. Eventually he won the tender to build the
Penkridge Viaduct in 1835 which he completed successfully.
Over the next few years he won contracts to build Chester and Crewe Railway, the
Glasgow Paisley and Greenock Railway and the Sheffield and Manchester Railway.
He worked on all these projects with other civil engineering partners.
Inspired by the developments the British were making in the railways sector, the
French too decided to implement massive railway projects for which tenders from
British engineers were invited. Teaming up with a former rival, William Mackenzie,
Brassey submitted a tender which was accepted in 1841.
The two men worked on several French projects between 1841 and 1844, building a
total of 437 miles (703 km) of railway lines. However, following the French Revolution
of 1848, the engineers had to look for opportunities outside France.
He got several contracts in England, Scotland and Wales in 1845. Working along
with Locke, he built the Lancaster and Carlisle Railway which passed through the
Lune Valley and over the Shap Fell.
In 1852, he received the biggest contract of his careerto build the Grand Trunk
Railway in Canada. He worked with several partners on this project which included
building the Victoria Bridge over the river at Montreal which is till considered to be
one of the longest bridges in the world.
Along with his partners he built a factory in Birkenhead, Canada, called The Canada
Works. The company could make 40 locomotives in a year and also produced the
metallic components that were required for the construction of railway lines and
bridges.
He had built a number of drainage systems including the London sewerage system
and a waterworks at Calcutta. Several docks, stations and bridges were also built by
him in addition to railway lines. He was a very brilliant and successful professional
who worked till the end of his life.

Major Works
One of the biggest works of his life was building the Grand Trunk Railway of Canada.
Brassey worked in partnership with Peto, Betts and Sir William Jackson to build this
railway line which totaled 539 miles (867 km) in length and connected Quebec to
Toronto.

Awards & Achievements

He was a very simple person in spite of all his financial successes and refused to
accept any awards within his native Britain though he did accept foreign honors like
the French Lgion d'honneur and the Italian Order of Saints Maurice and Lazarus
and the Austrian Iron Crown out of courtesy.
Personal Life & Legacy
He married Maria Harrison, the daughter of Joseph Harrison, a forwarding and
shipping agent, in 1831. His wife was very supportive and motivated him to perform
well in his career. The couple had four sons of whom one died in his infancy. The
surviving sons all grew up to be successful professionals themselves.
He suffered from cancer during his last days and died from a brain hemorrhage on
December 8, 1870. He died a very rich man; at the time of his death his estate was
valued at 5,200,000.
His bicentenary was celebrated in November 2005 and a special commemorative
train was run from Chester to Holyhead.

Conclusion:
We can conclude that THOMAS BRASSEY was a great civil engineer whose genius
and dedication made his career successful and fruitful in all senses, something that was also
translated to his personal life. Without any doubts, one of the most talented and skilled civil
engineers in history.