BRINDLEY, JAMES (1716-1772), English engineer, was born at Thornsett, Derbyshire. He was apprenticed to a mill wright near Macclesfield, and set up as a wheelwright at Leek. In 1752 he designed and set up an engine for draining some coal-pits at Clifton in Lancashire. Three years later he extended his reputation by completing the machinery for a silk-mill at Congleton. In 1759, when the duke of Bridgewater was anxious to improve the outlets for the coal on his estates, Brindley ad vised the construction of a canal from Worsley to Manchester. The difficulties in the way were great, but all were surmounted by his genius, and his crowning triumph was the construction of an aqueduct to carry the canal at an elevation of 39ft. over the river Irwell at Barton. The great success of this canal encour aged similar projects, and Brindley was soon engaged in extend ing his first work to the Mersey, at Runcorn. He then designed and nearly completed what he called the Grand Trunk Canal, connecting the Trent and Humber with the Mersey. The Staf fordshire and Worcestershire, the Oxford and the Chesterfield canals were also planned by him, and altogether he laid out over 36om. of canals. He died at Turnhurst, Staffordshire, on Sept. 3o, 1772. Brindley retained to the last a peculiar roughness of character and demeanour; he remained practically illiterate all his life, working without written calculations or drawings.