James Brindley (1716-1772), British engineer and canal builder. Although not highly educated, Brindley achieved fame through his ingenious and radical solutions to engineering problems. Asked to drain a mine he built a long millrace, 800 metres of which was underground, to power a waterwheel and pump. After his work on this he was asked to help design canals, building the Worsley to Manchester 'Bridgewater Canal' - the first canal to not use a natural waterway at any point. Disliking locks, he built an aqueduct (left) to cross the River Irwell and this construction, where 'ships sailed over ships' became one of the wonders of the industrial age. Published in 1849.