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Celebrated for his construction of the Eddystone Lighthouse near Plymouth, John Smeaton (1724–92) established himself as Britain's foremost civil engineer in the eighteenth century. A founder member of the Society of Civil Engineers, he was instrumental in promoting the growth of the profession. After his death his papers were acquired by the president of the Royal Society, Sir Joseph Banks, Smeaton's friend and patron. Using these materials, a special committee decided to publish 'every paper of any consequence' written by Smeaton, as a 'fund of practical instruction' for current and future engineers. These were published in four illustrated volumes between 1812 and 1814. Volume 2 contains Smeaton's reports on engineering works for bridges, including a proposal for the widening and improvement of London Bridge, as well as many plans for the creation or improvement of canals, mills and waterwheels.
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