The Institution's headquarters

Founded on 2 January 1818, the Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE) is an independent professional association, based in central London, representing civil engineers. Like its early membership, the majority of its current members are British engineers, but it also has members in more than 100 countries around the world. In 2003, its total membership stood at around 80,000. In 2005, Gordon Masterton assumed office as the current President. Download high resolution version (2848x2136, 1630 KB)Institution of Civil Engineers Date: 7th April 2004 18:38 Camera: FujiFilm FinePix S7000 Exposure: 1/80 sec. ... Download high resolution version (2848x2136, 1630 KB)Institution of Civil Engineers Date: 7th April 2004 18:38 Camera: FujiFilm FinePix S7000 Exposure: 1/80 sec. ... January 2 is the second day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1818 (MDCCCXVIII) is a common year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar or a common year starting on Saturday of the 12-day slower Julian calendar. ... This article or section should be merged with professional body In countries where the legal system entitles defendants to a jury by their peers, the general public may not be considered sufficiently knowledgeable in a field of practice to act as a peer in some legal cases. ... London (pronounced ) is the capital city of England and the United Kingdom. ... This is a list of civil engineers, people who were trained in or practiced civil engineering. ...

Purpose

As a professional body, it is committed to support and promote professional learning (both to students and existing practitioners), managing professional ethics and safeguarding the status of engineers, and representing the interests of the profession in dealings with government, etc. It sets standards for membership of the body; works with industry and academia to progress engineering standards and to advise on education and training curricula; publishes technical studies of aspects of civil engineering, and publishes a weekly magazine, the New Civil Engineer. New Civil Engineer is the weekly magazine of the Institution of Civil Engineers, the UK chartered body that oversees the practice of civil engineering in the UK. New Civil Engineer was a co-founder of the British Construction Industry Awards. ...

Students pursuing recognised academic courses in civil engineering can join the ICE as student members. After completing their studies, individuals can become graduate members – a step closer to achieving full Member status (MICE). The pinnacle of professional standing is to then be accepted as a Fellow (FICE).

Origins

The late 18th century and early 19th century saw the founding of many learned societies and professional bodies (for example, the Royal Society and the Law Society). Groups calling themselves civil engineers had been meeting for some years from the late 18th century, notably the Society of Civil Engineers formed in 1771 by John Smeaton (renamed the Smeatonian Society after his death). However, apart from groups centred upon universities and other centres of learning such as military engineering academies (eg: the Royal Military Academy at Woolwich) and Mechanics' Institutes, there was no body promoting the profession of civil engineering. (17th century - 18th century - 19th century - more centuries) As a means of recording the passage of time, the 18th century refers to the century that lasted from 1701 through 1800. ... Alternative meaning: Nineteenth Century (periodical) (18th century — 19th century — 20th century — more centuries) As a means of recording the passage of time, the 19th century was that century which lasted from 1801-1900 in the sense of the Gregorian calendar. ... The premises of the Royal Society in London (first four properties only). ... The Law Society of England and Wales is the professional association that regulates and represents the solicitors profession in England and Wales. ... (17th century - 18th century - 19th century - more centuries) As a means of recording the passage of time, the 18th century refers to the century that lasted from 1701 through 1800. ... Portrait of John Smeaton, with the Eddystone Lighthouse in the background. ... The Royal Military Academy was founded in 1741 in Woolwich, south-east London. ... Woolwich is a suburb in south-east London, England in the London Borough of Greenwich, on the south side of the River Thames, though the tiny exclave of North Woolwich (which is now part of the London Borough of Newham) is on the north side of the river. ... Historically, Mechanics Institutes were educational establishments formed to provide adult education, particularly in technical subjects, to working men. ...

The initiative to found the Institution was taken in 1818 by three young engineers, Henry Robinson Palmer (23), James Jones (28) and Joshua Field (32), who organised an inaugural meeting on the 2nd January 1818, at the Kendal Coffee House in Fleet Street. The institution made little headway until a key step was taken - the appointment of Thomas Telford as the first President of the body. Greatly respected within the profession and blessed with numerous contacts across the industry and in government circles, he was instrumental in drumming up membership and getting a Royal Charter for ICE in 1828. This official recognition helped establish ICE as the pre-eminent organisation for civil engineers. Fleet Street road sign Fleet Street in 1890 Fleet Street in 2005 Fleet Street is a famous London street, named after the River Fleet. ... Thomas Telford (August 9, 1757 - September 2, 1834) was born in Westerkirk, Scotland. ... A Royal Charter is a charter given by a monarch to legitimize an incorporated body, such as a city, company, university or such. ... 1828 was a leap year starting on Tuesday (see link for calendar). ...

The objects of such institution, as recited in the charter, were

The general advancement of mechanical science, and more particularly for promoting the acquisition of that species of knowledge which constitutes the profession of a civil engineer; being the art of directing the great sources of power in nature for the use and convenience of man, as the means of production and of traffic in states, both for external and internal trade, as applied in the construction of roads, bridges, aqueducts, canals, river navigation, and docks, for internal intercourse and exchange; and in the construction of ports, harbours, moles, breakwaters, and light-houses, and in the art of navigation by artificial power, for the purposes of commerce; and in the construction and adaptation of machinery, and in the drainage of cities and towns.

After Telford’s death in 1834, the organisation moved into premises in Great George Street in the heart of Westminster in 1839, and began to publish learned papers on engineering topics. Its members, notably William Cubitt, were also prominent in the organisation of the Great Exhibition of 1851. Image File history File links Cquote1. ... Image File history File links Cquote2. ... Westminster is a district within the City of Westminster in London. ... Sir William Cubitt (1785-1861) was an eminent British civil engineer and millwright. ... The Great Exhibition was an international exhibition held in Hyde Park London, from 1 May to 15 October 1851 and the first in a series of Worlds Fair exhibitions of culture and industry that were to be a popular 19th century feature. ...

In some respects ICE was ahead of its time, providing a focus for engineers from other disciplines. Mechanical engineer and tool-maker Henry Maudslay was an early member and Joseph Whitworth presented one of the earliest papers – it was not until 1847 that the Institution of Mechanical Engineers was established (with George Stephenson as its first President). Henry Maudslay. ... Sir Joseph Whitworth Sir Joseph Whitworth, Baronet (December 21, 1803 - January 22, 1887) was an English engineer and entrepreneur. ... Logo The Institution of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE) is the British engineering society concerned with mechanical engineering. ... George Stephenson George Stephenson (9 June 1781 – 12 August 1848) was an English mechanical engineer who designed a famous and historically important steam-powered locomotive named Rocket and is known as the Father of British Steam Railways. The Victorians considered him a great example of diligent application and thirst for...

By the end of the 19th century, ICE had introduced examinations for professional engineering qualifications to help ensure and maintain high standards among its members – a role it continues today.

Past ICE Presidents

Many of the profession’s greatest engineers have served as President of the ICE including:

• Thomas Telford (1820-1834 – the post later became a biennial and then annual accolade)
• James Walker (1834-45)
• Sir John Rennie (1845)
• Sir William Cubitt (1851)
• James Meadows Rendel (1852-53)
• Robert Stephenson (1855)
• Joseph Locke (1857)
• Sir John Fowler (1865)
• Thomas Hawksley (1871)
• William Henry Barlow (1879)
• Sir Joseph Bazalgette (1888)
• Sir John Coode (1889-1891)
• Sir Robert Rawlinson (1894)
• Sir John Wolfe-Barry (1896)
• Sir Guilford Lindsey Molesworth (1904)
• Sir Alexander Binnie (1905)
• Sir Alexander Gibb (1936)
• Sir William Halcrow (1944)

Presidents since 1973- Thomas Telford (August 9, 1757 - September 2, 1834) was born in Westerkirk, Scotland. ... James Walker (September 14, 1781-October 8, 1862) was an influential Scottish civil engineer of the first half of the 19th century. ... John Rennie. ... Sir William Cubitt (1785-1861) was an eminent British civil engineer and millwright. ... James Meadows Rendel FRS (1799-1856) was a British civil engineer. ... Statue of Robert Stephenson at Euston Station, London Robert Stephenson FRS (October 16, 1803–October 12, 1859) was an English civil engineer. ... Joseph Locke, railway engineer Joseph Locke (9 August 1805- 18 September 1860) was a notable British civil engineer of the 19th century, particularly associated with railway projects. ... Sir John Fowler (July 15, 1817–November 10, 1898) was born in Wadsley, South Yorkshire, England. ... Thomas Hawksley (12 July 1807-15 September 1893) was an English civil engineer of the 19th century, particularly associated with water engineering projects. ... William Henry Barlow (1812-1902) was an English civil engineer of the 19th century, particularly associated with railway engineering projects. ... Memorial to Sir Joseph Bazalgette on Victoria Embankment Sir Joseph William Bazalgette (28 March 1819 – 15 March 1891) was one of the great Victorian civil engineers. ... John Coode is a name which is covered by several Wikipedia articles: John Coode (engineer) John Coode (Governor of Maryland) This is a disambiguation page: a list of articles associated with the same title. ... Sir Robert Rawlinson (February 28, 1810 - May 31, 1898), English engineer and sanitarian, was born at Bristol. ... Sir John Wolfe-Barry (1836-1919) was an English civil engineer of the late 19th and early 20th century. ... Sir Guilford Lindsey Molesworth (1828-1925) was an English civil engineer. ... Sir Alexander Binnie was a civil engineer responsible for several major engineering projects, including several associated with crossings of the River Thames in London. ... Sir Alexander Gibb (February 12, 1872 - January 21, 1958) was a Scottish civil engineer. ... Sir William Halcrow (July 1883 - 1958) was one of the most notable English civil engineers of the 20th century, particularly renowned for his expertise in the design of tunnels and for a host of wartime projects during the Second World War. ...

• Sir Kirby Laing MA FREng JP DL (1973-74)
  
• Sir William G Harris KBE CB MA HonDSc(Eng) FREng (1974-75) (dec'd 2005)
  
• Sir Norman Rowntree BSc(Eng) DSc FREng (1975-76) (dec'd 1991)
  
• J W Baxter CBE BSc(Eng) FREng (1976 -77) (dec'd 2003)
  
• Sir Alan Muir Wood MA DSc FRS FREng (1977-78)
  
• Professor R C Coates PhD BSc(Eng) FREng (1978-79) (dec'd 2004)
  
• W G N Geddes CBE BSc FREng (1979 -80) (dec'd 1993) 
  
• P A Cox BSc(Eng) FCGI FREng (1980-81)
  
• I M Campbell CVO BSc(Eng) FREng (1981-82) (dec'd 1994)
  
• J V Bartlett CBE MA FREng (1982-83)
  
• J A Gaffney CBE BSc(Eng) DSc FREng (1983-84) 
  
• J A Derrington CBE BSc(Eng) DIC FREng (1984-85)
  
• D A D Reeve CBE BSc FREng (1985-86) (dec'd 1994)  
  
• D G M Roberts CBE MA FREng (1986-87)
  
• Sir William Francis CBE LLD FREng (1987-88)
  
• A C Paterson CBE DSc BSc(Eng) FREng (1988-89)
  
• Professor P F Stott CBE MA FREng (1989 -90) (dec'd 1993) 
  
• Professor R T Severn CBE DSc PhD FREng (1990-91)
  
• R L Wilson CBE BSc(Eng) FREng (1991-92)
  
• M N T Cottell OBE FREng (1992-93)
  
• S N Mustow CBE BSc FREng (1993-94)
  
• Dr Edmund Cadbury Hambly MA FREng (1994-95) (dec'd 1995) 
  
• Professor T M Ridley CBE PhD FREng (1995-96)
  
• D F Green FREng (1996-97)
  
• Sir Alan Cockshaw BSc Hon DEng Hon DSc FREng (1997-98)
  
• R N Sainsbury MA FREng Hon IFASCE (1998-99)
  
• Professor G Fleming BSc PhD FRSE FREng FASCE (1999-2000)
  
• Sir Joseph Dwyer FREng CEng FCIOB (2000-2001)
  
• M Whitby BSc(Eng) FREng FIStructE Hon FRIBA (2001-2002)
  
• Professor Adrian Long PhD DSc FREng FIStructE FIEI FIAE FICT FACI (2002-2003)
  
• Douglas Oakervee OBE FREng CEng FICE FHKIE (2003-04)
  
• Dr Colin John Clinton BSc(Hons) Hon DScEng CEng FICE FInstCES FIHT (2004-2005)
  

Sadly, arguably Britain's greatest engineer Isambard Kingdom Brunel died before he could take up the post (he was vice-president from 1850). Brunel before the launching of the Great Eastern. ...

The blog of the current president (2005 to 2006) Gordon Masterton is on the web site of the Institution of Civil Engineers here.[1]

References

• Charles Matthew Norrie (1956). Bridging the Years - a short history of British Civil Engineering. Edward Arnold (Publishers) Ltd.
• Garth Watson (1988). The Civils - The story of the Institution of Civil Engineers. Thomas Telford Ltd

See also

• Science Abstracts

The first issue of Science Abstracts was published in January 1898. ...

External link

• ICE website