Sir William Arrol 1839-1913
November 12 @ 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Gordon Masterton is Emeritus Professor of Engineering at Edinburgh University with oversight of a Centre for Future Infrastructure. He is a past president of the Institution of Civil Engineers.
Summary:
In December 1879, the Tay Bridge disaster struck when the railway bridge collapsed under strong lateral winds, just a year after its opening. William Arrol was chosen to build the replacement, with construction starting in 1882 and finishing in 1887. Around the same time, he was also working on the Forth Bridge, which began in 1882 and, upon its 1890 opening, boasted the world’s longest single cantilever span. His dedication to these projects earned him a knighthood, and Sir William Arrol & Company Ltd was established in June 1893. The success of these two Scottish bridges brought him global fame, leading to bridge projects across Britain, Europe, and even Australia. Among his most famous works was London’s Tower Bridge, opened in 1894, where he oversaw all the steel construction.