The Life of Thomas Telford

The Life of Thomas Telford is a biography written by Samuel Smiles that tells the story of the famous Scottish civil engineer and architect, Thomas Telford. Telford was born in 1757 and grew up in poverty, but he eventually rose to become one of the most respected engineers of his time. He is best known for his work on the construction of the Caledonian Canal, the Menai Suspension Bridge, and the famous Pontcysyllte Aqueduct.The book covers Telford's early life and education, his apprenticeship as a stonemason, and his rise to prominence as a civil engineer. It also explores his personal life and his relationships with other famous figures of his time, including William Pitt the Younger and Robert Burns.Throughout the book, Smiles provides detailed descriptions of Telford's engineering projects, including the challenges he faced and the innovative solutions he developed. He also explores Telford's impact on the engineering profession and his legacy in the modern world.Overall, The Life of Thomas Telford is a fascinating and informative biography that offers a detailed look at the life and work of one of the most important engineers of the 19th century.But, as Telford afterwards used to say, very much depends on whether the man has got a head with brains in it of the right sort upon his shoulders. In London, the weak man is simply a unit added to the vast floating crowd, and may be driven hither and thither, if he do not sink altogether; while the strong man will strike out, keep his head above water, and make a course for himself, as Telford did.This scarce antiquarian book is a facsimile reprint of the old original and may contain some imperfections such as library marks and notations. Because we believe this work is culturally important, we have made it available as part of our commitment for protecting, preserving, and promoting the world's literature in affordable, high quality, modern editions, that are true to their original work.