Thomas Bedwell facts for kids
Thomas Bedwell was an English mathematician and military engineer who lived a long time ago. He passed away in April 1595.
Bedwell was a very smart person who studied at Trinity College, Cambridge, a famous university in England. He started there in November 1562 and earned his first degree in 1567. Later, he became a fellow (like a senior member) and got his master's degree in 1570.
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What Did Thomas Bedwell Do?
Thomas Bedwell had several important jobs and ideas during his life.
Keeper of Ordnance Stores
He was put in charge of the ordnance stores at the Tower of London. This means he looked after all the weapons, cannons, and military equipment. It was a very important job to make sure England's defenses were strong.
Bringing Water to London
Bedwell is also known for suggesting a big project. He thought of a way to bring fresh water from the River Lea in Ware all the way to London. This would have been a huge engineering feat for his time!
Helping Defend England
At the time of the Spanish Armada, England was in danger of being invaded by Spain. Thomas Bedwell worked with another engineer named Frederico Genebelli. They helped make the forts stronger at places like Tilbury and Gravesend. Their work was important for protecting England from the Spanish ships.
His Family and Legacy
Thomas Bedwell was the uncle of William Bedwell, who became a famous expert in the Arabic language. William Bedwell admired his uncle greatly. He even called Thomas "our English Tycho," comparing him to the famous Danish astronomer Tycho Brahe.
Thomas Bedwell also invented a special ruler. It was called a mesolabium architectonicum. This tool helped carpenters with their calculations. His nephew, William, later wrote books explaining how to use this helpful invention.
