John Gilbert (agent) facts for kids
John Gilbert (1724–1795) was an important land agent and engineer in England. He worked for the third Duke of Bridgewater. Gilbert is famous for coming up with the idea that led to the building of the Bridgewater Canal. This canal was a big step forward during the Industrial Revolution.
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Early Life and Training
John Gilbert was born in Staffordshire, England, in 1724. When he was about 12 or 13 years old, he started learning a trade. He became an apprentice to Matthew Boulton. This Matthew Boulton made small metal items. He was also the father of the famous engineer, Matthew Boulton.
When John Gilbert was 19, his father passed away. He then left his apprenticeship. John went home to manage his family's lime works. Lime was a very useful mineral at the time.
The Idea for the Bridgewater Canal
John's brother, Thomas Gilbert, worked for Lord Gower. Lord Gower was related to the Duke of Bridgewater. Thomas invited John to visit the Duke's coal mines. These mines were located in a place called Worsley.
While inspecting the mines, John Gilbert had a brilliant idea. He suggested building a canal. This canal would help drain water from the mines. It would also make it much easier to transport the coal. This was a very clever solution.
Around 1758, John Gilbert became the Duke's official agent. He moved to Worsley to live and work. He immediately began important work. This included measuring the land and planning the canal's route.
Later, a famous engineer named James Brindley joined the project. Brindley became the main engineer for the canal. John Gilbert, the Duke, and James Brindley worked together. They planned the canal and watched over its construction. They often met at Worsley Old Hall to discuss their progress.
Other Important Projects
John Gilbert did more than just work on the canal. He also managed the Duke's main farm. He even started a lead pencil factory in Worsley. This factory used plumbago, a type of graphite, from the Duke's mines in Keswick.
When lime was discovered on the Duke's land, Gilbert's past experience was very helpful. He helped the Duke develop lime burning. This created another way for the Duke to earn money.
Gilbert also worked on other projects on his own. He helped drain a large marshy area called Martin Mere. He also helped reclaim land in the northern part of Chat Moss.
In the 1770s, Gilbert worked for the Duke of Devonshire. He helped plan an underground canal for the Duke's Ecton Hill mines. In the 1780s, Gilbert developed the first deep salt mine. This was the Marston Mine near the Lion Salt Works in Cheshire. At the time of his death, work was still going on. He had designed an inclined plane for the Worsley mining system. This shows how innovative he was.
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