Thomas Telford (1757 - 1834)

Born 9 Aug 1757 in Glendinning, Westerkirk, Eskdale, Dumfriesshire, Scotland

Ancestors

Died 2 Sep 1834 at age 77 in Westminster, Middlesex, England, United Kingdom

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Biography

Thomas Telford is Notable.

Thomas Telford was born in Scotland.

Thomas Telford was born in 1757 at Glendinning Farm, and christened 9 August 1757, at Westerkirk Parish, Eskdale, Dumfriesshire, Scotland, son of John Telford , a shepherd, and Janet Jackson.^[1] His father John died, at the age of 33, only four months after Thomas' birth. Thomas and his mother were forced to move to a two room cottage in Crooks (the new shepherd got their humble cottage, and the pay that had sustained Thomas' family), which they shared with a neighbor.^[2][3]

Educated at the Westerkirk Parish school between periods of working for the various farmers, Thomas learned little more than the basics of reading, writing, and arithmetic. When he was about 15, he was apprenticed to to a mason at Lochmaben , but his new master treated him poorly, and he ran away, taking refuge with his mother. His cousin, Thomas Jackson, helped him get a new apprenticeship with Andrew Thomson, a small mason at Langholm . As the new Duke of Buccleuch was improving much of his property, including the farmers houses and the roads throughout Eskdale, Andrew had much work for Thomas, and he gained much experience in the raising of rough houses, farm enclosures and bridges.^[2][3]

While at Langholm he came to the attention of an elderly lady, a miss Elizabeth Pasley of the family of the Pasleys of Craig. Impressed with Thomas' intelligence, diligence and conscientiousness, she allowed him access to her large library. This gave Thomas exposure to a great deal of British literature, for which he developed a great love that would endure to the end of his life^[2][3]

The most important project that Thomas worked on while at Langholm was the construction of a new bridge across the Esk at Langholm, which was built around 1778 under the direction of Thomas' former master, Andrew Thompson (Thomas had finished his apprenticeship by this time and was a Jouneyman). The bridge still stands, and Telford's masons mark is visible close to the water line at the western end of the bridge. ^[4][2]. Another important project of this period was the construction of the manse at Westerkirk.^[4]

In 1780, Thomas left Eskdale, and travelled to Edinburgh where there was a great deal of new construction and he could easily find work. He studied there the application of drawing to architecture, and became proficient in the craft. He remained in Edinburgh for about two years, then returned to Eskdale for a visit with his mother and relatives. He then went on to London to seek his fortune.^[2]

When he left Eskdale he had been given a letter of introduction by Elizabeth Pasley to her brother, John Pasley, a merchant in London, asking him to use his influence to help Thomas. Thomas wrote letters of recommendation to two prominent architects of the time: Sir William Chambers, architect of Somerset House, and Robert Adam. Thomas was immediately employed by Chambers, and went to work at Somerset house.^[2][5]

In July of 1784, Thomas was hired to be superintendent for the construction of a large house (for the commissioner of the port) at Portsmouth Dockyards. The house was designed by Samuel Wyatt , and was of a grander scale and higher class than those in his previous experience. He also constructed a small chapel for the dock yard. While engaged in this project, Thomas was able to observe many of the construction techniques common to a port facility, such as the building of graving docks and wharf walls. He also took time to study chemistry, particularly as it applied to the making of mortar. The work was completed in 1787.^[2][5]

Thomas then was sought out by Sir William Pulteney to supervise the alterations designed by Robert Adam to Shrewsbury Castle in Shropshire. During the completion of this work he was appointed Surveyor of Public works for the Salop County Council(later the Shropshire County Council). He designed and oversaw the construction of his first bridge, the Montfort Bridge, the construction of which as completed in 1792 for the Council.

Watercolor painting of Montford Bridge, The first bridge designed by Telford

As Surveyor of Public Works, he also oversaw all road building and repair for the County, and was responsible for working and gaurding the prisoners serving time in the couny jail.^[2][5].

In October of 1793 Thomas was appointed "sole agent, architect, and engineer" for the newly approved Ellesemere Canal project. This project being Telfords first major foray into canal building, he depended heavily on the guidance of the project's consulting engineer, William Jessop. This would mark his embarkment on his career as a civil engineer, though he did not entirely abandon architecture. The canal was a massive project, and occupied him until its completion in 1805. The project included the Pontcysyllte Aqueduct which was just over 1000 feet long at an elevation of 126 feet above the River Dee in the valley below, making it the longest aqueduct in great Britain. ^{[2][5] [6]}

The Pontcysyllte Aqueduct

In July, 1801 Thomas was asked by Nicholas Vansittart, Joint Secretary to the Treasury, to investigate ways of improving the fishing industry in Scotland. In September he received additional instructions to Also investigate the work needed to improve the coastal harbors in northeastern Scotland to better serve commercial use, and also use by the Navy. In his report of his survey results to Vansittart Telford recommends developing major harbour facilities at Oban and Peterhead for use by the Navy and building new harbours at Wick and Thurso for the fishing fleets. His main proposal, however, was to build a canal system from Inverness] to Fort William along the Great Glenn suitable for navigation by any size ship of the time.^[4]

In 1802 Telford was elected to the Royal Society of Edinburgh.^[4]

In July of 1802, Telford's charter was expanded to include a detailed survey of the feasibility of his proposed canal, already being called the Caledonian Canal, initial studies for bridges at the Cromarty and Beauly Firths (neither bridge was approved, crossings were not built until the late 20th century). More significantly, there was a request for Telford to report on the state of emigration from the Highlands and Islands. Thomas duly reported back in the spring of 1803. He recommended bridges be built across the River Tay at Dunkeld and across the River Spey at Fochabers, along with numerous recommendations for road improvements and new roads. His report on the emigration problem startled the Treasury lords, who had not understood the severity of the problem.^[2][5][4]

The result, in 1803 was the establishment of two commissions, one to oversee the construction of the Caledonian Canal and another to oversee the construction of what was to be over 1000 miles of new road, 1200 new bridges, and the improvement of over 230 miles of old military roads.^[5][4] Telford was to be chief Engineer along with William Jessop on the canal, and was to be chief engineer for the roads, bridges and harbor improvements, work that would occupy him for the rest of his life, and earn him the nickname "The Colossus Of Roads" from his friend Robert Southey.^[2][5][4]

Work on the Caledonian Canal was also begun in 1803, with Matthew Davidson supervising work at the east end, and John Telford (thought to be no relation to Thomas) supervising work at the west end. Work was started at both ends of the canal so that materials needed at the middle could be brought by means of the canal. Some of the most difficult work was the system of eight interconnected locks near the western end at Banavie which Telford named Neptune's Staircase, and the sea lock at Clachnaharry, where the canal had to be extended by artificial embankments 400 yards out into the Beauly Firth to cross a deep mud plain.^[2][5][4]

Neptune's Staircase at Banavie, near Fort William just north of Loch Linnhe

The canal was finally opened in October, 1822, at a cost that was double the original estimate.^[2].

The canal was hardly the only work Telford was involved in during the construction of the Caledonian;as memtioned before, he was also chief engineer for the roads and bridges. He designed many of the bridges including the worlds first suspension bridge at Menai. He produced the standard to which the roads were built, and was involved in several canal projects, including the Göta Canal in Sweden. ^[2][5][4].

The Bridge of the River Tay at Dunkeld

The Menai Suspension Bridge

The Tongland Bridge

In the spring of 1820, Telford became the first president of the newly formed Institution of Civil Engineers, and in 1828 he succeeded in obtaining a Royal Charter for the Institution.^[2][5][4]

Thomas Telford died on the 2nd of September 1834 at his home on 24 Abingdon Street, Westminster. He was 77 years old and still active in his profession. He was buried in Westminster Abbey on the 10th of September.^{[3][2][5][4][7]}

Telford never married, and at the time of his death had no living family. His will was funded a bequest of £2000 to the Institute of Civil Engineering, two bequests of £1000 for libraries in Westerkirk and Langholm. The rest was bequeathed in amounts ranging from £200 to £500 to the people who had been his clerks, assistants and surveyors on his various public works, and two his close personal friends including Colonel Pasley of the Royal engineers, the nephew of John Pasley, Thomas' early benefactor, Mr. Rickman, Mr. Milne, and Mr. Hope, his three executors ; and Robert Southey and Thomas Campbell, the poets.^[5][4]

In the words of his biographer Anthony Burton; ' "Perhaps of all his achievements, the one of which he would have been most proud, and most justly proud, would be his work in reviving the devastated, depressed Highlands. He brought the people piers and jetties, roads, bridges and canals. More even than work, he brought them hope. His was a generous spirit. He was a great engineer, one of the greatest of all time. He was also a great man."^[4]

Research Notes

• Smiles^[2] and Burton.^[4] both spell the name "Pasley", rather than like the current name of the town in Renfrewshire: Paisley, which is used in the present day by The Clan Paisley Society.

• According to the brief biography of Thomas Telford at Famous Scots "Despite his prodigious output, he left very little in the way of wealth - he had often taken on projects for which he was not paid." From the transcription of Telford's will in Smiles' biography, one sees that the itemized disposition amounts to £16618. Adjusted for the sale of property and gain in value from the time of its writing the completion of probate, the amount becomes £28250.6 (based on the reported difference in the amount left to his friend Robert Southey (£500) and Southey's report of the actual bequest (£850)^[2]. Converting the value of £28250 in 1835 to 2021 U.S. $ gives a present day value of $3,865,384.50 (calculation made at Eric W. Nye, Pounds Sterling to Dollars: Historical Conversion of Currency, https://www.uwyo.edu/numimage/currency.htm. [Accessed Sunday, August 29, 2021]). One wonders at the description of this value as "very little wealth".

Sources

1. ↑ "National Records of Scotland at ScotlandsPeople.com", Old Parish Registers - Births and baptisms; Surname: TELFER; Forename: THOMAS; Parents: JOHN TELFER/ ; Gender: M; Date: 09/08/1757; Parish #: 854/; Ref:10 76; Parish Name: Westerkirk
2. ↑ ^{2.00 2.01 2.02 2.03 2.04 2.05 2.06 2.07 2.08 2.09 2.10 2.11 2.12 2.13 2.14 2.15 2.16 2.17} Smiles, Samuel, and Gerstein - University of Toronto."The Life of Thomas Telford, Civil Engineer : With an Introductory History of Roads and Traveling in Great Britain". Internet Archive, London : J. Murray, Albemarle Street, 1867, [Accessed 28 Aug. 2021].
3. ↑ ^{3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3} Leslie, Steven, Sir. "Dictionary of National Biography", 1885. Vol. 56, London, England, Smith, Elder, & co., 1898, Telford, Thomas: pp. 9–14, [Accessed 28 Aug. 2021].
4. ↑ ^{4.00 4.01 4.02 4.03 4.04 4.05 4.06 4.07 4.08 4.09 4.10 4.11 4.12 4.13} Burton, Anthony."Thomas Telford: Master Builder of Roads & Canals". Amazon, Kindle Edition ed., 47 Church St. , Barnsley, South Yorkshire, S70 2AS, Pen and Sword Books Ltd., 17 June 2015,
5. ↑ ^{5.00 5.01 5.02 5.03 5.04 5.05 5.06 5.07 5.08 5.09 5.10 5.11} Telford, Thomas. "Life of Thomas Telford, Civil Engineer, Written by Himself, Containing a Descriptive Narrative of His Professional Labors with a Folio Atlas of Copper Plates". Edited by John Rickman. Internet Archive, Pall Mall, London, Payne and Foss, 1838, [Accessed 28 Aug. 2021]
6. ↑ Christopher, John. "Thomas Telford through Time". 2016. e-book ed., The Hill, Stroud, Gloucestershire, GL5 4EP, Amberley Publishing, 2016, [Accessed 25 Aug. 2021].
7. ↑ Find a Grave, database and images ( https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/6165/thomas-telford : accessed 11 January 2022), memorial page for Thomas Telford (9 Aug 1757–2 Sep 1834), Find A Grave: Memorial #6165 citing Westminster Abbey, Westminster, City of Westminster, Greater London, England ; Maintained by Find a Grave .

See Also

• Wikipedia: Thomas Telford

• Famous Scots