John Smeaton

High school (ages 12+)
History & Culture

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Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/john-smeaton

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. When was John Smeaton born?June 8, 1724
2. Where was John Smeaton born?Oulton, near Leeds, England
3. What was John Smeaton's job?First to self-proclaim as a 'civil engineer'
4. What is the career?Instrument maker, civil engineer, mechanical engineer, and scholar
5. What is the notable projects?Eddystone Lighthouse, Ramsgate Harbour improvements, bridge over the River Tyne at Hexham
6. Who was John Smeaton?John Smeaton was a brilliant builder and inventor who is often called the "father of civil engineering." He loved math and science and used them to design stronger bridges and lighthouses.

Hydraulic Concrete: A type of concrete that hardens and gains strength even when submerged in water, due to specific binders like hydraulic lime.
Empirical Evidence: Information gained through observation and experimentation rather than theory alone.
Scientific Methodology: A systematic approach to research involving observation, hypothesis formation, experimentation, and analysis.