Bridgewater, Duke of

Bridgewater, Duke of (1736-1803), known as 'the father of English canals'.

Francis Egerton, 3rd Duke of Bridgewater, was the owner of a coal mine at Worsley, Lancashire.

On a visit to France he saw a new canal and he had the idea of building one from his mine to Manchester, 10 miles away. It would keep down the cost of the coal to the people in the town.

The Bridgewater Canal, the first in England, was built by James Brindley and afterwards the Duke asked him to build another from Manchester to Runcorn (28 miles). Both canals were successful and his example was copied all over England.

See Hugh Malet The canal Duke: A biography of Francis,3rd Duke of Bridgewater