1724
John Smeaton is born
John Smeaton is credited as the father of civil engineering, and is responsible for the seminal ‘oak tree’ curves and dovetail jointing of the third Eddystone Lighthouse.
He also designed a lighthouse at Spurn Point (now defunct) and a number of bridges, canals and harbours.
1772
Robert Stevenson is born
Robert Stevenson was a Scottish civil engineer and famed designer and builder of lighthouses. One of his finest achievements was the construction of the Bell Rock Lighthouse, operated by our sister lighthouse authority the Northern Lighthouse Board.