ABSTRACT
Thomas Telford, hailed as the 'Pontifex Maximus' of the Industrial Revolution, was born in 1757 the son of a shepherd from Westerkirk in Eskdale, Dumfriesshire. Two years on Government contracts at Portsmouth made Telford familiar with the constructional problems of a great harbour and naval base. Then, in 1788, through the influence of Pulteney, who was one of the M. P. s for Shrewsbury, Telford was appointed Surveyor of Public Works for Shropshire, at this time one of Britain's foremost industrial counties. In this capacity, he 'laid town and country under contribution in every direction' for the building of roads, bridges, churches, a county infirmary, and a county gaol. While still involved in the Ellesmere Canal Telford was appointed by the Government to survey the transport deficiencies of Northern Scotland. Telford built or planned more than 1,200 bridges and over nine hundred miles of road in Scotland for the commission, besides being concerned with harbour works at 43 Scottish ports.
