TELFORD, THOMAS (1757-1834). An emi nent Scottish engineer, born in Eskdale, Dumfries shire. At the age of fourteen he adopted the trade of a stone-mason. In 1780 lie removed to Edin burgh, and in 1783 he repaired to London, wbere he was appointed in 1784 to superintend the erec tion of the resident commissioner's house at Portsmouth dockyard. In 1787 he was appointed surveyor of public works for Shropshire; and his two bridges over the Severn at Montford and Buildwas and other works gained for him the planning and superintendence of the projected Ellesmere Canal, to connect the navigation of the Severn, Dee, and Mersey—a work which occupied ten years (1795-1805). In 1801 he received a com mission from the Government to report on the state of Scotland, and on the desirable public works for that country. As a consequence. the plan of a canal from Inverness to Fort William was revived, and its planning and construction intrusted to Telford. (See CALEDONIAN CANAL.) In the same capacity he constructed more than 1000 miles of road in the Highlands, Lanark shire, and Dumfriesshire and about 1200 bridges, besides churches, manses, harbors, etc. In 1808,
and again in 1S13, he was invited to Sweden. to report on the projected scheme for connecting Lake Vener with the Baltic, and superintended the construction of the (Pita Canal, by which this was effected. His next great work was the construction of the road from London to Holy head, including the erection of numerous bridges —among others, of the Menai suspension bridge. For the last few years of his life he re tired from the active duties of his profession, employed himself in collecting and arranging materials for a complete history of his various works, and had the greater portion of the MSS.
ready when he died suddenly at Abingdon street, Westminster. His life, entitled The Life of Thomas Telford, Civil Engineer, written by him self, was published in 1838. In America Telford is now chiefly known as a famons road-builder, and particularly for introducing the system of road improvement that bears his name. See ROAD..