England Occupations Science and Engineering - International Institute

Science and Engineering
The recency of these professions means that most are well covered in the usual Who’s Who and biographical dictionaries such as Colvin on architects 1660-1840. There are few descriptions of their work written with family historians in mind.

Early Walloon and Fleming engineering work draining the East Anglian fens from 1626 is described by Beharrell (Nothing Without Labour. Family Tree Magazine Vol 10 #5, page 43-44). Canals, roads, bridges and railways are the subjects of essays by Chaloner (People and Industries. Frank Cass, London. ). The 19th century engineers have been considered by Jarvis (The Victorian Engineer. Shire Publications), who surveys the works of the consultants, salaried engineers and the entrepreneurs. Alefounder (Using Manorial Records to Trace Thomas Alefounder, Schoolmaster and Mapmaker. Journal of One-Name Studies Vol 7 #3, page 6-7) has traced a 17th-18th century mapmaker, and various scientists and explorers who have authored works but who fell on hard times can be found in the Royal Literary Fund records. Inventions and patents are the subject of Public Record Office leaflet D3, and registered designs and trade marks are covered in D100 and D101. Examples from Woodcroft’s Alphabetical Index of Patentees of Inventions 1617-1852 on is shown below.

CHART: Patentees of Inventions

The researcher can then follow up at the Patent Office or in the patent collection at the British Library, and van Dulken, a patent librarian there shows how.

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