Brindley

Brindley, James, was born near Chapel-le-Frith, Derbyshire, in 1716, and in his early years followed the humble trade of millwright, in which he earned considerable local reputation. This led to his employment (1754) by the Duke of Bridgewater in the construction of his famous canal, and his services were next engaged in the connection of the Severn with the Grand Trunk Canal. His success in these and similar undertakings put him at the head of this branch of the engineering profession, and he was consulted in all the projects for linking together by water the chief industrial centres of the kingdom. He was quite uneducated, and overcame difficulties by rough and ready common-sense, rather than by scientific resources. It is said that when he had to face any task of more than usual magnitude, he went to bed and remained there until he had thought out his plans. Exhausted by a succession of arduous labours, he died prematurely in 1772.