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an Engineer in the mid 1800's

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an Engineer in the mid 1800's

carolinedavis007  (View posts) Posted: 3 Nov 2009 8:43PM GMT
Classification: Query
I am having trouble researching an elusive GGG grandfather. His occupation was ENGINEER. Home base seems to have been the Tiverton area, although one son was born in Tavistock.

Would anybody know where a man would be educated in order to be an engineer?

Cheers
Caroline

Re: an Engineer in the mid 1800's

RobinPhillips60  (View posts) Posted: 4 Nov 2009 8:24PM GMT
Classification: Query
Caroline
I am sure that you will receive many replies form engineers but here are a few questions you will need to be able to answer:
1. What sort of Engineer was he? Mining, civil, railway, canal etc etc Any clues on profesion will help, such as from Census records or birth/marriage certificates.
2. In the mid 1800s, many engineers used their experience to develop their skills, rather than being specifically trained. Again, an idea of his field of work will be useful.
3. Some professions, such as civil engineers, will have worked and trained towards obtaining membership of a professional body. For example, the Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE) was founded in 1818.
4. Lastly, bear in mind that if he was a professional engineeer, it is likeley that he travelled to wherever the work was and this was probably different to where he trained.
All a bit vague until you know wheat he did as a profession but when you do, various institutions have good archives (again, e.g. the ICE).
Good luck
Robin
(a Civil Engineer)

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