Lives of the Engineers
With an Account of their Principal Works; Comprising Also a History of Inland Communication in Britain

Spanning from the Roman to Victorian period, this three-volume work (1861–2) provides detailed biographies of Britain's most notable engineers.

Samuel Smiles (Author)

9781108052924, Cambridge University Press

Paperback / softback, published 2 August 2012

512 pages, 82 b/w illus.
21.6 x 14 x 2.9 cm, 0.65 kg

A political and social reformer, Samuel Smiles (1812–1904) was also a noted biographer in the Victorian period. Following the engineer's death in 1848, Smiles published his highly successful Life of George Stephenson in 1857 (also reissued in this series). His interest in engineering evolved and he began working on biographies of Britain's most notable engineers from the Roman to the Victorian era. Originally published in three volumes between 1861 and 1862, this work contains detailed and lively accounts of the educations, careers and pioneering work of seven of Britain's most accomplished engineers. These volumes stand as a remarkable undertaking, advancing not only the genre, but also the author's belief in what hard work could achieve. Volume 1 charts the engineering of early roads, embankments, bridges, harbours and ferries, as well as the lives of the engineers Sir Hugh Myddelton (c.1560–1631) and James Brindley (1716–72).

Preface
Part I. Early Works of Embanking and Draining: 1. Ancient British earthworks
2. Water the chief element
3. Cornelius Vermuyden
4. Vermuyden undertakes to drain the Great Level of the Fens
5. Breaches in the Thames Embankment
Part II. Life of Sir Hugh Myddleton: 1. Water supply of London in early times
2. The Myddleton family in north Wales
3. Myddleton elected representative of Denbigh in Parliament
4. Method of constructing the New River works
5. Brading Haven
6. Sir High enters upon his mining enterprise in Wales
Part III. Early Roads and Modes of Travelling: 1. Uses and influence of roads
2. Ordinary modes of conveyance in early times
3. Influence of roads on manners and customs
4. Improvements in travelling
5. Memoir of John Metcalf
Part IV. Bridges, Harbours and Roads: 1. Old fords
2. Thames ferry between London and Southwark
3. Memoir of William Edwards
4. Insignificant character of the English navy in early times
5. Inland navigation
Part V. Life of James Brindley: 1. Brindley's native district
2. Begins business as a wheelwright
3. Lancashire navigations
4. The Duke's first canal acts
5. Brindley surveys an extension of the Duke's canal
6. Brindley constructs the Duke's canal to Runcorn
7. The Duke of Bridgewater's pecuniary difficulties
8. The Grand Trunk Canal
9. Brindley's opinion as to the use of rivers
10. Brindley's domestic life
Index.

Subject Areas: History of engineering & technology [TBX]