Thomas Telford

Thomas Telford, (1757-1834). Scottish civil engineer. The son of a shepherd, he learned the trade of a stonemason and educated himself to be an architect. While working as an engineer on the Ellesmere Canal (1796-1801) he made his name with the construction of its two great aqueducts. In Scotland he built the Caledonian Canal and over 1600 km of roads (1801-23), greatly improving communications. While working on the Lon-don-Holyhead road he designed and built the Menai suspension bridge (1819-25), his best-known work. Other major constructions include the Gota Canal, Sweden, and St Katherine’s Dock, London. He was also responsible for draining part of the East Anglian fens. Telford New Town in Shropshire was named in his honor.