5 of the Greatest Engineers from the United Kingdom
The 1800’s and the early 90’s saw major feats of engineering and technological development spurred on by the industrial revolution, as well as the First and Second World War. Many of these inventions are responsible for radicalising technology across the world and are still influencing our world to this day. A great many of these feats are a result of the work of pioneering engineers from all across the United Kingdom. The work of these engineers and many of the figures from those times are also still massively helpful to the industry, contributing components and more used by engineering companies such as App Eng and more. In this article, we will take a brief look at some of these great historical figures and their wondrous inventions.
Isambard Kingdom Brunel
[Image source: http://www.thefamouspeople.com]
If you’ve ever driven over the Clifton Suspension Bridge or taken a train from London Paddington Station, you have Isambard Kingdom Brunel to thank. Born in Portsmouth on the 9th of April, 1806, Isambard Kingdom Brunel is considered one of the most prolific figures in the history of engineering. One of the pioneering figures of the industrial revolution, Brunel designed and engineered ships, bridges, railway lines and tunnels and is credited with a number of impressive feats of engineering.
John Logie Baird
[image source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/]
If you like to spend your evenings relaxing in front of the TV and catching up with your favourite programmes, then you have the work of John Logie Baird to be grateful for. Born on the 14th August on the west coast of Scotland, John Logie Baird created the world’s first television in 1924 from his room in Soho, London. Although it was considered to be a crude set up, Baird’s system was able to transmit an image up to a few feet away. By 1927, Baird had continued to develop his system and was demonstrated over 438 miles of telephone lines between London and Glasgow.
Alexander Graham Bell
[Image source: ww.scotsman.com]
Telephones may have come a long way since the 1800s, but arguably without the work of Alexander Graham Bell, we would not have the technology that has come to dominate the lives of people all over the world. Born in Edinburgh on the 3rd of March, 1847, Alexander Graham Bell is credited with patenting and pioneering the development of the first telephone. With a passion for communication and dedicated to the idea of transmitting speech, Bell developed a receiver in 1875 that could turn electricity into sound. This was then patented in 1876 and was quickly adapted by the world.
Frank Whittle
[Image source: http://www.dailymail.co.uk]
Born on the 1st of June, 1907 in Coventry, Frank Whittle is credited with inventing the jet engine. As the son of a mechanic, Frank Whittle attempted to join the RAF three times before he was finally accepted as an apprentice in 1923, later qualifying as a pilot officer in 1928. It was during his time with the RAF that Whittle developed a thesis arguing that piston engines and propellers were unsuitable for high altitude flight and that a stronger form of propulsion would be needed. He patented the gas turbine idea in 1935, devoting his life to developing his idea further until his work drew the attention of the Americans who embraced his ideas almost as much as Whittle did.
Christopher Cockerell
[Image source: http://www.telegraph.co.uk]
While Frank Whittle held a passion for aviation, Christopher Cockerell was more interested in coming up with new ways to get across the sea. Born in Cambridge on the 4th of June, Christopher Cockerell is the inventor of the hovercraft. Cockerell developed the hovercraft for much of his life, though it was declared a secret by the Ministry of Supply. It wasn’t until 1957 when Cockerell heard of a similar invention being developed that he managed to secure funding to develop his invention further, with the first prototype crossing the English Channel for the first time in 1959.
Article credits: This article was written by Dakota Murphey, a founder of Genie Bingo and a regular contributor to Techno FAQ.
