James Henry Greathead
James Henry Greathead (born August 6, 1844 in Grahamstown , South Africa , † October 21, 1896 in Streatham , London ) was a civil engineer who was instrumental in the development of the tunnel boring machine .
Life
In 1859 Greathead went to Great Britain, in 1864 he started working for bridge builder Peter W. Barlow and around 1867 he became an assistant at the Midland Railway , where he worked with William Henry Barlow. In 1869 he rejoined Barlow, where he worked on the design for the Tower Subway . For this purpose, he and Peter W. Barlow improved the tunnel construction shield for shield driving developed by Marc Isambard Brunel in 1818 and designed his own tunnel boring machine.
He was also a consultant in the construction of the Blackwall Tunnel . Later he was chief engineer at the City and South London Railway . Shortly before his death, he was involved in the planning and construction of the Central London Railway together with Sir Benjamin Baker .
literature
- Frederic Boase: Modern English Biography, Vol. 1 . Cass Reprint, London 1965 (6 volumes, reprint of the Truro edition 1892/1921).
Web links
| personal data | |
|---|---|
| SURNAME | Greathead, James Henry |
| BRIEF DESCRIPTION | Civil engineer who invented the tunnel boring machine |
| DATE OF BIRTH | August 6, 1844 |
| PLACE OF BIRTH | Grahamstown , South Africa |
| DATE OF DEATH | October 21, 1896 |
| Place of death | Streaham , London |