John Smeaton

John Smeaton
Smeaton, with the Eddystone Lighthouse in the background
Born(1724-06-08)8 June 1724
Died28 October 1792(1792-10-28) (aged 68)
Austhorpe, West Riding of Yorkshire, England
Resting placeSt Mary's Church, Whitkirk
OccupationCivil engineer
AwardsCopley Medal (1759)

John Smeaton FRS (8 June 1724 – 28 October 1792) was an English civil engineer responsible for the design of bridges, canals, harbours and lighthouses. He was also a capable mechanical engineer and an eminent scholar, who introduced various scientific methodologies into engineering. Smeaton was the first self-proclaimed "civil engineer", and is often regarded as the "father of civil engineering". He pioneered the use of hydraulic lime in concrete, using pebbles and powdered brick as aggregate. Smeaton was associated with the Lunar Society.