The Highlands Of Scotland Tourist Board


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The Highlands Of Scotland Tourist Board

The Highlands Of Scotland Tourist Board

Thomas Telford, civil engineer, was one of life’s great achievers, a classic example of a man who rose from humble beginnings to become one of the greatest men of his age. That age – the Industrial Revolution – was one which, it can be argued, shaped the course of world history; and Telford played such a large part in it that he was nicknamed ‘The Colossus of Roads’.

Telford's Birth and Early Life 1757-1780

Thomas Telford was born the son of a shepherd in the Scottish Borders village of Glendinning on 9 August 1757. Some sources have it that his father died before his son was born, others that he lived only a few months beyond Thomas’ birth. Either way, the boy’s upbringing, living alone with his mother in the poverty of a two-roomed cottage, was harsh.

But in one key respect Thomas proved to be fortunate. Though his mother was poor, he had an uncle who was willing to pay for him to attend school. Despite this generosity, money remained short and he had to work for local farmers outside school time in order to supplement the family’s meagre income. This education, and his friendship with a local schoolmaster, were to provide the basis for his future career.