382 Presidentship of Sir Benjamin Erodie 1860 



lived till 1895, when he had nearly completed his eighty- 

 fifth year. 



William Fairbairn's career was a remarkable example of 

 how inborn genius, indomitable courage, and unwearied 

 perseverance can conquer what might seem insuperable 

 obstacles. Born at Kelso of humble parentage, he appren- 

 ticed himself to an engine-wright at North Shields. There 

 he spent his leisure hours in studying mathematics and en- 

 larging the education which a Scottish parish school had 

 given him. As soon as he saw his opportunity he began 

 business for himself in a small way at Manchester. He had 

 formed a clear belief that iron could be advantageously 

 substituted for wood and stone in many constructions, and 

 he began by making this substitution in the shafting of 

 cotton mills. He was one of the earliest to foresee that iron 

 might replace wood in the building of ships, and he built 

 many iron vessels in works which he set up at Millwall. He 

 also perceived that iron could be effectively used instead of 

 stone in the construction of bridges, and he astonished the 

 world by the way in which he carried out the suggestion 

 first put forward by Robert Stephenson of bridging the 

 Menai Strait with an iron tube. The success of this con- 

 struction, and the advantage of wrought-iron girders which 

 he first introduced, brought him a vast accession of business. 

 The practical benefits which he thus introduced into en- 

 gineering work were widely appreciated. The Royal Society 

 elected him one of its Fellows in 1850. He was chosen 

 President of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers in 

 1854, an d na d honorary degrees conferred on him by more 

 than one university. He was elected President of the 

 British Association at Manchester in 1861, and created 

 baronet in 1869. 



Captain Douglas Strutt Galton, educated at Rugby and 

 Woolwich, joined the Royal Engineers, in which service he 

 became Captain in 1856. His practical knowledge of engin- 

 eering led to his being placed on successive Royal Commis- 

 sions of enquiry. He filled several public offices, being for 

 some years Assistant Under-Secretary for War, and afterwards 



