Father of Civil Engineering: John Smeaton

Articles > Father of Civil Engineering: John Smeaton

Introduction:

Civil engineering is a core branch of engineering, which deals with design, construction and maintenance of public buildings such as roads, buildings, bridges, dams, airport, railway, tunnel, etc. This entire concept of civil engineering started during the primitive era but with the evolution of time new techniques were developed. But this word “Civil Engineer” was first used by John Smeaton, hence he is known as the “Father of Civil Engineering”

About John Smeaton:

Image: John Smeaton

Courtesy: Wikipedia

John Smeaton was an Englishmen born on 8th June 1724, in the United Kingdom. He was blessed with the ability to think differently and hence laid the foundation for civil engineers with his innovative works. Apart from his proficiency in Civil engineering, he was also a Mechanical engineer and an eminent physicist. He pioneered the use of hydraulic lime in concrete, using pebbles and powdered brick as aggregate,thus creating a new path in the development of modern cement, which led to the formation of portland cement .

Smeaton also played a major role in the conversion of wind and water power to steam power. He has also received the Royal Society’s Copley Medal for an “An Experimental Enquiry Concerning the Natural Powers of Water and Wind to Turn Mills (1759)”. He was also a member of the Royal society and a guest member at the meeting of the Lunar society.

His famous works includes-

Eddystone Lighthouse
Smeaton’s Lighthouse
Portland Cement
Forth and Clyde Canal at Scotland
Ramsgate harbour
Perth Bridge
Banff harbour
Aberdeen bridge
Improvements to the River Lee Navigation
Nent force level
Peterhead harbour etc.

Apart from the above mentioned works there are at least 35 major civil engineering related projects, more than 60 mills and over 10 steam engines.

His other achievements include the design of large atmospheric pumping engines for Long Benton colliery in Northumberland, Chacewater mine in Cornwall, and the docks of Kronshtadt in Russia. Along with that he improved the safety of the diving bell by fitting an air pump to the bell.

Smeaton was also the member of the first professional engineering society, The Society of Civil Engineers (founded in 1771), which came to be known as the Smeatonian Society after his death. He was also a consultant of a 63-year long project at Rye, which is presently known as “Smeaton’s Harbour”. He died in the year 1792, after having a stroke.

Legacy:

Smeaton’s Lighthouse: Smeaton’s lighthouse is one of the most noted structures in the field of civil engineering. This structure was modelled on the basis of an oak tree. The construction started in the year 1756 in Millbay and was completed in the year 1759. In order to move masonry around the site, timber rails of 3ft 6in were laid for easy movement of four wheeled trucks around the site. The construction was done on a very particular basis avoiding any possibility of press ganging, also many Cornish tin workers were involved in the construction. After the construction was done 24 candles were lit on 16th October in 1759, each candle weighed between 2 to 5 pounds. This lighthouse was 59feet high and had a base diameter of 26feet and the top diameter of 17feet. This lighthouse was in use until 1877 after that it was subjected to erosion to the rocks at the bottom, due to water waves, causing the structure to shake from side to side. After this, in the year 1882 the upper part of the lighthouse was dismantled and rebuilt on a new base on Plymouth Hoe, which now serves as Smeaton’s memorial. A replica of Smeaton’s lighthouse(Hoad Monument) was built at Cumbria.

Fig: Smeaton's Lighthouse

Courtesy: Wikipedia

Portland Cement: Smeaton discovered the use of hydraulic lime in concrete for the first time, after conducting a series of experiments while building the Eddystone lighthouse in the year 1756. The mixture that he created consists of limestone and clay which could easily set under water. Smeaton’s experiment was adapted by Joseph Aspedin, who invented that heating clay and limestone under very high temperature and then gradually cooling it and then mixing and grinding it would create a strong cement which was named as Portland Cement. This invention marked a change in the field of civil engineering.

Fig: Portland Cement

Courtesy: Wikipedia

Perth Bridge: Located in the city of Perth,Scotland, this bridge which spans over the river Tay, was designed as Smeaton, hence known as Smeaton’s Bridge. It is a toll-free bridge designed to carry both automotive and pedestrian traffic. It was started in the year 1766 and was completed by the year 1772. Smeaton’s bridge was beautifully designed with 9 arches in pink sandstone. The total length of the bridge was 272m and was the longest bridge at the time of its construction in Scotland. This bridge was designed to resist flood and was capable enough to resist the heavy flood in the year 1772. Later due to heavy pedestrian traffic the bridge was widened in the year 1869 by A.D.Stewart, along with that the stone parapets were removed and footpaths were built over it.

Fig: Perth Bridge

Courtesy: Wikipedia

Forth and Clyde canal pathway: With a total length of 56km, the canal was opened in the year 1790 and it runs from the river Carron at Grangemouth to the river Clyde at Bowling. The construction was started in the year 1768 and was completed after many years due to improper funding in the year 1790. This canal was constructed to link eastern end of the canal to Edinburgh. Since this canal served for navigation purposes, it brought new opportunities for trade and manufacture. Later the management of the canal was taken over by the railway in 1853. Forth and Clyde was nationalised in the year 1948 but was later closed in the year 1963, due to the higher rates of the maintenance cost of the bridges crossing the canal.

Fig: Forth and Clyde Canal

Courtesy: Wikipedia

Conclusion:

Smeaton was one of the highly regarded civil engineers of the time, having his contribution from bridges to canals to roads, etc.He is one of the six engineers depicted in the Stephenson stained glass window designed by William Wales. He was also among the top 10 technological innovators, who has paved the path for civil engineers in various fields. His works have led us to understand the depth and beauty of civil engineering.

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