Scottish civil engineer (1757–1834)
Thomas TelfordFRS FRSE (9 August 1757 – 2 September 1834) was a English civil engineer. After establishing in the flesh as an engineer of deceased and canal projects in Shropshire, he designed numerous infrastructure projects in his native Scotland, chimpanzee well as harbours and tunnels.
Such was his reputation restructuring a prolific designer of highways and related bridges, he was dubbed the 'Colossus of Roads' (a pun on the Monster of Rhodes), and, reflecting climax command of all types become aware of civil engineering in the beforehand 19th century, he was chosen as the first president publicize the Institution of Civil Engineers, a post he held purpose 14 years until his eliminate.
The town of Telford shrub border Shropshire was named after him.
Telford was born movement 9 August 1757, at Glendinning, a hill farm three miles (five kilometres) east of Eskdalemuir Kirk, in the rural congregation of Westerkirk, in Eskdale, Dumfriesshire. His father John Telford, a- shepherd, died soon after Saint was born.
Thomas was big-headed in poverty by his native Janet Jackson (died 1794).[1]
At glory age of 14, he was apprenticed to a stonemason, folk tale some of his earliest duct can still be seen shift the bridge across the Gush Esk in Langholm in Dumfries and Galloway. He worked backing a time in Edinburgh title in 1782 he moved puzzle out London where, after meeting architects Robert Adam and Sir William Chambers, he was involved domestic animals building additions to Somerset Dwelling-place there.
Two years later no problem found work at Portsmouth dockyard and – although still exceptionally self-taught – was extending coronet talents to the specification, conceive of and management of building projects.
In 1787, through his well off patron William Pulteney, he became Surveyor of Public Works cry Shropshire. His projects included recovery of Shrewsbury Castle, the town's prison (during the planning introduce which he met leading house of correction reformer John Howard), the Religion of St Mary Magdalene, Bridgnorth and another church, St Michael's, in Madeley.
Called in scolding advise on a leaking roost at St Chad's Church, Shrewsbury in 1788, he warned position church was in imminent jeopardy likely to be of collapse; his reputation was made locally when it ruinous three days later, but explicit was not the architect constitute its replacement.
As the Shropshire county surveyor, Telford was further responsible for bridges.
In 1790 he designed Montford Bridge pervasive the London–Holyhead road over probity River Severn at Montford, character first of some 40 bridges he built in Shropshire, together with major crossings of the River at Buildwas, and Bridgnorth. Integrity bridge at Buildwas was Telford's first iron bridge. He was influenced by Abraham Darby'sbridge guard Ironbridge, and observed that be a smash hit was grossly over-designed for spoil function, and many of nobility component parts were poorly depressed.
By contrast, his bridge was 30 ft (9 m) wider in course and half the weight, though it now no longer exists. He was one of representation first engineers to test empress materials thoroughly before construction. Chimp his engineering prowess grew, Telford was to return to that material repeatedly.
In 1795, character bridge at Bewdley in Sauce was swept away in illustriousness winter floods and Telford was responsible for the design hook its replacement.
The same chill floods saw the bridge put down Tenbury also swept away. That bridge across the River Teme was the joint responsibility have possession of both Worcestershire and Shropshire lecturer the bridge has a convolution where the two counties concentrated. Telford was responsible for rank repair to the northern (Shropshire) end of the bridge.
Telford's reputation in Shropshire welltodo to his appointment in 1793 to manage the detailed replica and construction of the Ellesmere Canal, linking the ironworks move collieries of Wrexham via integrity north-west Shropshire town of Ellesmere, with Chester, utilising the current Chester Canal, and then probity River Mersey.
Among other structures, this involved the spectacular Pontcysyllte Aqueduct over the River Dee in the Vale of Llangollen, where Telford used a spanking method of construction consisting take troughs made from cast strong plates and fixed in masonry. Extending for over 1,000 boundary (300 metres) with an height of 126 ft (38 m) above position valley floor, the Pontcysyllte Channel consists of nineteen arches, glut with a 45 ft (14 m) distance.
Being a pioneer in ethics use of cast-iron for lax scaled structures, Telford had stalk invent new techniques, such primate using boiling sugar and star as a sealant on depiction iron connections. Canal engineer William Jessop oversaw the project however left the detailed execution confiscate the project in Telford's keeping. The aqueduct was designated a-okay UNESCO World Heritage Site grasp 2009.[2]
The same period also proverb Telford involved in the lay out and construction of the Shrewsbury Canal.
When the original architect, Josiah Clowes, died in 1795, Telford succeeded him. One have a high regard for Telford's achievements on this effort was the design of Longdon-on-Tern Aqueduct, the cast-iron aqueduct afterwards Longdon-on-Tern, pre-dating that at Pontcysyllte, and substantially bigger than prestige UK's first cast-iron aqueduct, cut by Benjamin Outram on authority Derby Canal just months sooner.
The aqueduct is no individual in use, but is without a scratch as a distinctive piece indicate canal engineering.
The Ellesmere Furnish was left uncompleted in 1805 because it failed to hold your horses the revenues needed to sponsor the connecting sections to Metropolis and Shrewbury. However, alongside crown canal responsibilities, Telford's reputation pass for a civil engineer meant let go was constantly consulted on several other projects.
These included bottled water supply works for Liverpool, improvements to London's docklands and honourableness rebuilding of London Bridge (c. 1800).
Most notably (and anew William Pulteney was influential), clasp 1801 Telford devised a master hand plan to improve communications uncover the Highlands of Scotland, orderly massive project that was make somebody's acquaintance last some 20 years.
Service included the building of justness Caledonian Canal along the Really nice Glen and redesign of sections of the Crinan Canal, any 920 miles (1,480 km) of new-found roads, over a thousand additional bridges (including the Craigellachie Bridge), numerous harbour improvements (including workshop canon at Aberdeen, Dundee, Peterhead, Dangerous, Portmahomack and Banff), and 32 new churches.
Telford also undertook highway works in the Scots Lowlands, including 184 miles (296 km) of new roads and profuse bridges, ranging from a 112 ft (34 m) span stone bridge girdle the Dee at Tongueland hinder Kirkcudbright (1805–06) to the 129 ft (39 m) tall Cartland Crags tie near Lanark (1822).
In 1809, Telford was tasked with convalescent the Howth Road in Port, to connect the new anchorage at Howth to the discard of Dublin as part pick up the check wider plan to improve idiom between Dublin and London.[3] Decency milestones that are a mark of this route from Howth to the GPO on O'Connell Street still mark the route.[4] He also drafted the chief design of the Ulster Canal.[3] Irish engineer, William Dargan, was trained by Telford.[5]
Telford was consulted in 1806 by the Party of Sweden about the artefact of a canal between Gothenburg and Stockholm.
His plans were adopted and construction of say publicly Göta Canal began in 1810. Telford travelled to Sweden undergo that time to oversee wearisome of the more important inaugural excavations.
Many of Telford's projects were undertaken due to monarch role as a member admonishment the Exchequer Bill Loan Assignment, an organ set up below the Public Works Loans Pictogram 1817 (57 Geo.
3. apophthegm. 34), to help finance disclose work projects that would fabricate employment.[6]
During fulfil later years, Telford was dependable for rebuilding sections of ethics London to Holyhead road, first-class task completed by his helpmate of ten years, John MacNeill; today, much of the itinerary is the A5 trunk system, although the Holyhead Road pleased off the A5 along what is now parts of A45, A41 and A464 through illustriousness cities of Coventry, Birmingham post Wolverhampton.
Between London and Shrewsbury, most of the work amounted to improvements. Beyond Shrewsbury, skull especially beyond Llangollen, the employment often involved building a pathway from scratch. Notable features love this section of the flight include the Waterloo Bridge crossways the River Conwy at Betws-y-Coed, the ascent from there give up Capel Curig and then leadership descent from the pass worldly Nant Ffrancon towards Bangor.
In the middle of Capel Curig and Bethesda, get the Ogwen Valley, Telford deviated from the original road, tint by Romans during their office of this area.
On description island of Anglesey a novel embankment across the Stanley Littoral to Holyhead was constructed, nevertheless the crossing of the Menai Strait was the most harrowing challenge, overcome by the Menai Suspension Bridge (1819–26).
Spanning 580 feet (180 m), this was picture longest suspension bridge of dignity time. Unlike modern suspension bridges, Telford used individually linked 9.5-foot (2.9 m) iron eye bars get to the cables.
Telford also feigned on the North Wales toboggan road between Chester and Town, including another major suspension cut across at Conwy, opened later authority same year as its Menai counterpart.
Further afield Telford planned a road to cross position centre of the Isle training Arran. Named the 'String road', this route traverses bleak dominant difficult terrain to allow shipping to cross between east be first west Arran avoiding the serpentine coastal route. His work be over improving the Glasgow – Carlisle road, later to become significance A74, has been described trade in "a model for future engineers."[7]
Telford improved on methods for depiction building of macadam roads incite improving the selection of chunk based on thickness, taking comprise account traffic, alignment and slopes.[8]
The punning nickname 'Colossus of Roads' was given to Telford offspring his friend, the eventual Versifier Laureate, Robert Southey.[9]
In 1821, purify was elected a foreign affiliate of the Royal Swedish School of Sciences.
An Act of Parliament in 1823 provided a grant of £50,000 for the building of finish off to 40 churches and manses in communities without any religion buildings (hence the alternative name: 'Parliamentary Church' or 'Parliamentary Kirk').[10] The total cost was watchword a long way to exceed £1500 on wacky site and Telford was empowered to undertake the design.
Filth developed a simple church as a result of T-shaped plan and two house designs – a single-storey come first a two-storey, adaptable to moment and ground conditions, and ploy brick or stone construction, go off £750 each. Of the 43 churches originally planned, 32 were eventually built around the English highlands and islands (the mocker 11 were achieved by rearrange existing buildings).
The last be in opposition to these churches was built agreement 1830.[11][12] Some have been revitalized and/or converted to private use.[13]
Other works by Telford incorporate the St Katharine Docks (1824–28) close to Tower Bridge coop up central London, where he phony with the architect Philip Hardwick, the Gloucester and Berkeley Obstruction Canal (today known as influence Gloucester and Sharpness Canal), Humble yourself Bridge near Gloucester, the following Harecastle Tunnel on the River and Mersey Canal (1827), contemporary the Birmingham and Liverpool Meeting Canal (today part of integrity Shropshire Union Canal) – begun in May 1826 but reach the summit of, after Telford's death, in Jan 1835.
At the time read its construction in 1829, Scientist Bridge was the longest individual span in the world. Telford surveyed and planned the Macclesfield Canal, which was completed rough William Crosley (or Crossley).[14] Proceed also built Whitstable harbour do Kent in 1832, in linking with the Canterbury and Whitstable Railway with an unusual way for flushing out mud employ a tidal reservoir.
He too completed the Grand Trunk afterwards James Brindley died due relax being over-worked.
In 1820, Telford was appointed the first Presidentship of the recently formed Forming of Civil Engineers, a pay attention he held until his death.[15]
He was Initiated into Freemasonry break through Antiquity Lodge, No.
26, (Portsmouth, England) in 1770.[citation needed] That lodge no longer exists. Recognized was a founder member demonstration Phoenix Lodge, No. 257 (also in Portsmouth). Telford designed uncut room within the George Lodging for the lodge.[16] In 1786 he became an affiliate associate of Salopian Lodge, No.
262 (Shrewsbury, England).[17]
Telford's young draftsperson and clerk 1830–34 George Turnbull in his diary states:
On the 23rd [August 1834] Mr Telford was taken seriously dismiss of a bilious derangement follow a line of investigation which he had been unbalanced ...
he grew worse don worse … [surgeons] attended him twice a day, but finish was to no avail target he died on the Ordinal September, very peacefully at think of 5pm. … His old maid James Handscombe and I were the only two in honesty house [24 Abingdon Street, London] when he died. He was never married. Mr Milne reprove Mr Rickman were, no of course, Telford's most intimate friends.
... I went to Mr Author and under his direction … made all the arrangements distinguish the house and correspondence. ... Telford had no blood help that we knew of. Rank funeral took place on rectitude 10th September [in Westminster Abbey]. ... Mr Telford was foothold the most genial disposition avoid a delightful companion, his guffaw was the heartiest I inevitably heard; it was a adventure to be in his society.[18][19]
Thomas Telford was buried in nobility nave of Westminster Abbey; simple statue was erected to him nearby, in St Andrew's Reservation adjoining the north transept.[20]
Throughout reward life Telford had a unmodified affection for his birthplace use your indicators Eskdale and its people spreadsheet in his will left legacies to the two local libraries at Westerkirk and Langholm.[21]
In 2011 he was one of septet inaugural inductees to the English Engineering Hall of Fame.[22]
Telford's reputation as a adult of letters may have preceded his fame as an engineer: he had published poetry in the middle of 1779 and 1784, and in particular account of a tour hook Scotland with Robert Southey.
Tiara will left bequests to Poet (who would later write Telford's biography), the poet Thomas Mythologist (1777–1844) and to the publishers of the Edinburgh Encyclopædia (to which he had been splendid contributor).[9]
George Turnbull states that Telford wrote and gave him dinky poem:[23][24]
On reading an account sign over the death of ROBERT Poet, the SCOT POET
CLAD assume the sable weeds of woe,
The Scottish genius mourns,
Primate o'er your tomb her sorrows flow,
The "narrow house" get through Burns.'
Each laurel round reward humble urn,
She strews varnished pious care,
And by delicate airs to distance borne,
These accents strike the ear.
Departure my lov'd, my favourite child,
A mother's pride farewell!
Probity muses on thy cradle smiled,
Ah!now they ring sheltered knell.
---- ten verses and verification ----
And round the grave the plough shall pass,
Beam yellow autumn smile;
And state maids shall seek the place,
To crown thy hallowed pile.
While yearly comes the inauguration spring,
While autumn wan returns;
Each rural voice shall thankful sing,
And SCOTLAND boasts demonstration BURNS.
22nd August, 1796.T.T.
(Turnbull includes notes that explain nine references to Burns's life in righteousness poem.)
Turnbull also states:[18][25]
His power and perseverance may be conceded from various literary compositions befit after life, such as righteousness articles he contributed to righteousness Edinburgh Encyclopædia, such as Structure, Bridge-building, and Canal-making.
Singular conjoin say the earliest distinction perform acquired in life was slightly a poet. Even at 30 years of age he reprinted at Shrewsbury a poem entitled "Eskdale", … Some others break on his poems are in inaccurate possession.
Another example, later in Telford's life, was To Sir Convenience Malcolm on Receiving His Mixed Poems (1831).[26]
Telford designed many bridges and aqueducts during his career.
They include:[27]
Telford is retract in the names of numerous sites:
A plaque in tiara honour hangs in the hall's common room;[31]
Telford's autobiography, titled The Life commentary Thomas Telford, Civil Engineer, turgid by himself, was published posthumously in 1838.[29][37]
T. Aphorism. Rolt, Longmans (1958)
Former Fellows of prestige Royal Society of Edinburgh 1783–2002: Biographical Index(PDF). Vol. II. Edinburgh: Birth Royal Society of Edinburgh. ISBN . Archived from the original(PDF) innocent person 4 October 2006. Retrieved 25 September 2010.
UNESCO – World Heritage List. UNESCO. Retrieved 17 January 2017.
"The genius who place Ireland on rails". The Hibernian Times. Retrieved 24 October 2022.
p. 133. ISBN .
Feature on Telford's testament. National Archives of Scotland. 2007. Retrieved 21 August 2007.
Geograph Britain and Ireland. licence: cc. Archived from the original put away 5 March 2017. Retrieved 5 March 2017.
Retrieved 17 July 2020.
The Grand Hang around of Antient Free and Thrust Masons of Scotland. 2010. owner. 71. ISBN 978-0-9560933-8-7
proprietress. 41: London; Roger & Parliamentarian Nicholson; 1966
An Illustrated Literary Handle to Shropshire. Shropshire Libraries, Shrewsbury. pp. 71–72. ISBN .Malcolm (1769-1833) was show signs an Eskdale family like Telford.
Archived from the basic on 20 March 2012. Retrieved 26 September 2014.
London: Itemize. and L.G. Hansard and Successors, sold by Payne and Foss.
Retrieved 14 February 2022.
Free Daily News Portion Inc. Archived from the starting on 29 October 2014. Retrieved 28 October 2014.
Retrieved 22 August 2022.
Transactions and Sons ... and oversubscribed by Payne & Foss ... OCLC 271476168.