John Loudon McAdam (23 September 1756 – 26 November 1836) was a Scottish civil engineer and road-builder. He invented a new process, "macadamisation", for building roads with a smooth hard surface, using controlled materials of mixed particle size and predetermined structure, that would be more durable and less muddy than soil-based tracks.
John Loudon McAdam | |
|---|---|
 Engraving of McAdam at the British Museum | |
| Born | 23 September 1756 Ayr, Scotland |
| Died | 26 November 1836 (aged 80) Moffat, Dumfriesshire, Scotland |
| Nationality | Scottish |
| Citizenship | Scottish |
| Occupation | Engineer |
| Engineering career | |
| Significant advance | "Macadamisation" |
Modern road construction still reflects McAdam's influence. Of subsequent improvements, the most significant was the introduction of tar (originally coal tar) to bind the road surface's stones together, "tarmac" (for Tar Macadam.)
Early life
McAdam was born in Ayr, Scotland. He was the youngest of ten children and second son of the Baron of Waterhead. He moved to Lagwine at Carsphairn when still a child to live with his grandparents. The family name was traditionally McGregor, but was changed to McAdam (claiming descent from the Biblical Adam) for political reasons in James VI's reign.
He moved to New York in 1770 and, as a merchant and prize agent during the American Revolution, made his fortune working at his uncle William McAdam's counting house. He returned to Scotland in 1783 and purchased an estate at Sauchrie, Ayrshire.
Besides taking part in local Ayrshire affairs, McAdam operated the Kaims Colliery. The colliery supplied coal to the British Tar Company, of Archibald Cochrane, 9th Earl of Dundonald, and partners in the coal tar trade; McAdam ran its kilns. He further was involved in the ironworks at Muirkirk, which was a customer for the coke byproduct of the tar business. This business connection is the only direct relationship of McAdam and tar.
Career
McAdam became a trustee of the Ayrshire Turnpike in 1783 and became increasingly involved with day-to-day road construction over the next 10 years. In 1802 he moved to Bristol, England and he became general surveyor for the Bristol Corporation in 1804. He put forward his ideas in evidence to Parliamentary enquiries in 1810, 1819 and 1823. In two treatises written in 1816 and 1819 (Remarks on the Present System of Road-Making and Practical Essay on the Scientific Repair and Preservation of Roads) he argued that roads needed to be raised above the surrounding ground and constructed from layered rocks and gravel in a systematic manner.
McAdam had also been appointed surveyor to the Bristol Turnpike Trust in 1816, where he decided to remake the roads under his care with crushed stone bound with gravel on a firm base of large stones. A camber, making the road slightly convex, ensured rainwater rapidly drained off the road rather than penetrate and damage the road's foundations. This construction method, the greatest advance in road construction since Roman times, became known as "macadamisation", or, more simply, "macadam".
The macadam method spread very quickly across the world. The first macadam road in North America, the National Road, was completed in the 1830s and most of the main roads in Europe were subject to the McAdam process by the end of the nineteenth century.
Although McAdam was paid £5,000 for his Bristol Turnpike Trust work and made "Surveyor-General of Metropolitan Roads" in 1820, professional jealousy cut a £5,000 grant for expenses from the Parliament of the United Kingdom to £2,000 in 1827. His efficient road-building and management work had revealed the corruption and abuse of road tolls by unscrupulous turnpike trusts, many of which were run at a deliberate loss despite high toll receipts.[citation needed]
Death and descendants
McAdam died in Moffat, Dumfriesshire, while returning to his home in Hoddesdon, Hertfordshire, from his annual summer visit to Scotland. His three sons, and in turn four grandsons, followed him into the profession and assisted with the management of turnpike trusts around the country. His second surviving son, James Nicoll McAdam, the "Colossus of Roads", was knighted for managing turnpike trusts: a knighthood, it is said, previously offered to his father but declined.
References
- "FamilySearch.org". FamilySearch.
- Buchanan, Brenda J. (2004). "McAdam, John Loudon (1756–1836)". Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (Online ed.). Oxford University Press. doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/17325. (Subscription or UK public library membership required.)
- Lay, M. G. (1992). Ways of the World. Sydney: Primavera Press. pp. 74–77. ISBN 1-875368-05-1.
- Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). . Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol. 17 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. p. 190.
- Chaloner, William H. (1963). People and Industries. London: Routledge. pp. 55–6. ISBN 978-0-7146-1284-3. Retrieved 7 May 2013.
- Skempton, A. W., ed. (2002). A Biographical Dictionary of Civil Engineers in Great Britain and Ireland: 1500–1830. London: Thomas Telford. p. 416.
- "John Loudon MacAdam". Electric Scotland. Retrieved 12 October 2015.
- Edkins, Richard. "John Loudon McAdam, Road Engineer (1756–1836)". Moffat Business and Tourism. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 12 October 2015.
- Devereux, Roy (1936). John Loudon McAdam: Chapters in the History of Highways. London: Oxford University Press.
External links
Media related to John Loudon McAdam at Wikimedia Commons
Works related to John Loudon McAdam at Wikisource
- Works by John Loudon McAdam at Open Library
- Remarks on the Present System of Road Making by John Loudon McAdam, 1821, from Google Book Search
- Magazine from the Department of Public Works in Puerto Rico indicating, with a map, about a firm called McAdams that built many highways in Puerto Rico
John Loudon McAdam 23 September 1756 26 November 1836 was a Scottish civil engineer and road builder He invented a new process macadamisation for building roads with a smooth hard surface using controlled materials of mixed particle size and predetermined structure that would be more durable and less muddy than soil based tracks John Loudon McAdamEngraving of McAdam at the British MuseumBorn23 September 1756 Ayr ScotlandDied26 November 1836 1836 11 26 aged 80 Moffat Dumfriesshire ScotlandNationalityScottishCitizenshipScottishOccupationEngineerEngineering careerSignificant advance Macadamisation John Loudon McAdam 1830 National Gallery London Modern road construction still reflects McAdam s influence Of subsequent improvements the most significant was the introduction of tar originally coal tar to bind the road surface s stones together tarmac for Tar Macadam Early lifeMcAdam was born in Ayr Scotland He was the youngest of ten children and second son of the Baron of Waterhead He moved to Lagwine at Carsphairn when still a child to live with his grandparents The family name was traditionally McGregor but was changed to McAdam claiming descent from the Biblical Adam for political reasons in James VI s reign He moved to New York in 1770 and as a merchant and prize agent during the American Revolution made his fortune working at his uncle William McAdam s counting house He returned to Scotland in 1783 and purchased an estate at Sauchrie Ayrshire Besides taking part in local Ayrshire affairs McAdam operated the Kaims Colliery The colliery supplied coal to the British Tar Company of Archibald Cochrane 9th Earl of Dundonald and partners in the coal tar trade McAdam ran its kilns He further was involved in the ironworks at Muirkirk which was a customer for the coke byproduct of the tar business This business connection is the only direct relationship of McAdam and tar CareerMemorial stone to John Loudon McAdam McAdam became a trustee of the Ayrshire Turnpike in 1783 and became increasingly involved with day to day road construction over the next 10 years In 1802 he moved to Bristol England and he became general surveyor for the Bristol Corporation in 1804 He put forward his ideas in evidence to Parliamentary enquiries in 1810 1819 and 1823 In two treatises written in 1816 and 1819 Remarks on the Present System of Road Making and Practical Essay on the Scientific Repair and Preservation of Roads he argued that roads needed to be raised above the surrounding ground and constructed from layered rocks and gravel in a systematic manner Layers of macadam roads McAdam had also been appointed surveyor to the Bristol Turnpike Trust in 1816 where he decided to remake the roads under his care with crushed stone bound with gravel on a firm base of large stones A camber making the road slightly convex ensured rainwater rapidly drained off the road rather than penetrate and damage the road s foundations This construction method the greatest advance in road construction since Roman times became known as macadamisation or more simply macadam The macadam method spread very quickly across the world The first macadam road in North America the National Road was completed in the 1830s and most of the main roads in Europe were subject to the McAdam process by the end of the nineteenth century Although McAdam was paid 5 000 for his Bristol Turnpike Trust work and made Surveyor General of Metropolitan Roads in 1820 professional jealousy cut a 5 000 grant for expenses from the Parliament of the United Kingdom to 2 000 in 1827 His efficient road building and management work had revealed the corruption and abuse of road tolls by unscrupulous turnpike trusts many of which were run at a deliberate loss despite high toll receipts citation needed Death and descendantsMcAdam died in Moffat Dumfriesshire while returning to his home in Hoddesdon Hertfordshire from his annual summer visit to Scotland His three sons and in turn four grandsons followed him into the profession and assisted with the management of turnpike trusts around the country His second surviving son James Nicoll McAdam the Colossus of Roads was knighted for managing turnpike trusts a knighthood it is said previously offered to his father but declined References FamilySearch org FamilySearch Buchanan Brenda J 2004 McAdam John Loudon 1756 1836 Oxford Dictionary of National Biography Online ed Oxford University Press doi 10 1093 ref odnb 17325 Subscription or UK public library membership required Lay M G 1992 Ways of the World Sydney Primavera Press pp 74 77 ISBN 1 875368 05 1 Chisholm Hugh ed 1911 McAdam John Loudon Encyclopaedia Britannica Vol 17 11th ed Cambridge University Press p 190 Chaloner William H 1963 People and Industries London Routledge pp 55 6 ISBN 978 0 7146 1284 3 Retrieved 7 May 2013 Skempton A W ed 2002 A Biographical Dictionary of Civil Engineers in Great Britain and Ireland 1500 1830 London Thomas Telford p 416 John Loudon MacAdam Electric Scotland Retrieved 12 October 2015 Edkins Richard John Loudon McAdam Road Engineer 1756 1836 Moffat Business and Tourism Archived from the original on 4 March 2016 Retrieved 12 October 2015 Devereux Roy 1936 John Loudon McAdam Chapters in the History of Highways London Oxford University Press External linksMedia related to John Loudon McAdam at Wikimedia Commons Works related to John Loudon McAdam at Wikisource Works by John Loudon McAdam at Open Library Remarks on the Present System of Road Making by John Loudon McAdam 1821 from Google Book Search Magazine from the Department of Public Works in Puerto Rico indicating with a map about a firm called McAdams that built many highways in Puerto Rico
