James Brindley (1716-1772), English engineer and canal builder. Although almost illiterate, Brindley designed the Bridgewater Canal, which ran between Worsley and Manchester, England. It was the first canal in Britain that did not use a natural waterway along any of its length. The success of this technical achievement brought Brindley financial reward and many more clients. All his planning and calculations were made without writings or drawings. He went on to plan the construction of a total of 580 kilometres of canals. Brindley also invented a water engine that was able to drain a coalmine.