ABSTRACT
WESTON W. ca. 1752 Oxford/UK 29.08. 1833 London/UK William Weston was probably a pupil of the pioneer English canal engineer James Brindley (1716-1772). In 1792 Weston contracted first with the Schuylkill & Susquehanna Navigation Company, Pennsylvania, to serve for five years as engineer of its canal, then extending from Philadelphia up Schuylkill Valley to Reading and to Susquehanna, known later as Union Canal. He arrived at Philadelphia in 1793, serving the company for two years until becoming insolvent. He in parallel surveyed three canal projects. In 1794 he started the design of Middlesex Canal connecting Charlestown MA with the Merrimack River. In 1795 he examined the locks under construction at the Great Falls of Potomac River. The next two years were spent as engineer for the Western Inland Lock Navigation Company in New York State. Once Weston had severed his long connection with the Schuylkill & Susquehanna Company, he devoted himself for the New York State enterprise. In 1799 Weston examined for New York State the possible sources for future water supply. He recommended damming Bronx River and regulating its flow by raising the level of the Rye Ponds, now a part of the Kensico Reservoir. He also proposed a dual distribution system, to apply after the water was brought to the reservoir near the City Hall Park. Among Weston’s last American activities were these in connection with a ‘permanent bridge’ crossing the Schuylkill at Market Street, Philadelphia. As designer of the pier foundations, one extending to 12 m below the water surface, he remained in communication with the construction company for more than two years after his return to Great Britain in 1800. Little is known on Weston’s subsequent activities. He was offered the position of chief engineer for the Erie Canal Project, but he declined in favour of his age. Weston’s standing as an engineer in the United States may be judged by the obvious respect paid to his professional opinions by leading American men. Anonymous (1936). Weston, W. Dictionary of American biography 20: 21-22. Scribner’s: NY. Fitzsimons, N. (1967). Weston: The seven American years. Civil Engineering 37(10): 86-87. Kirby, R.S. (1936). William Weston and his contribution to early American engineering. Trans. Newcomen Society 16(1): 111-127. Shallat, T. (1994). Structures in the stream: Water, science and rise of the US Army. Austin. (P) Weston, W. (1794). Schuylkill and Susquehanna navigation. Philadelphia. Weston, W. (1795). An historical account of the rise, progress and present state of the Canal navigation in Pennsylvania. Poulson: Philadelphia.
