Person    | Male  Born 26/5/1797  Died 23/7/1872

William Bridges Adams

Author and engineer. Born in Woore, Shropshire. He invented the 'Adams Axle' which was used on British trains throughout the steam age. His writings include 'English Pleasure Carriages' and 'Roads and Rails'. Despite his middle name we can't find that he designed any bridges.

The plaque describes him as a 'polemicist' (a person who engages in controversial debate) which is possibly explained by his writings. The list at Wikisource includes articles entitled: 'The Development of Human Food', 'How to Convert London into a Garden', etc.

His second wife was Sarah Flower.

Credit for this entry to: Alan Patient of www.plaquesoflondon.co.uk

This section lists the memorials where the subject on this page is commemorated:
William Bridges Adams

Commemorated ati

Sarah and William Adams

On this site lived William Bridges Adams (1797 - 1872) inventor and polemicis...

Read More

Other Subjects

Thomas Telford

Thomas Telford

Stonemason, architect and civil engineer. Born Eskdale, Dumfriesshire. Aged 12 left school to work for a local stonemason. Aged 25 rode on horsebackĀ to London. Built roads, bridges and canals. Neve...

Person, Architecture, Engineering, Scotland

2 memorials
Rotherhithe Tunnel

Rotherhithe Tunnel

Road tunnel crossing under the River Thames, connecting Rotherhithe to the Ratcliff district of Limehouse. Designed by Sir Maurice Fitzmaurice, it was constructed using both a tunnelling 'shield' a...

Building, Engineering, Transport

7 memorials
Sir Hiram Maxim

Sir Hiram Maxim

Inventor and engineer. Designed and manufactured The Maxim Gun. Born Sangersville, Maine, USA, naturalised British. Died London.

Person, Engineering, USA

1 memorial
Frederick Bremer

Frederick Bremer

Engineer and inventor. Born in Stepney. A gas-fitter and plumber by trade, in 1892, with his assistant Tom Bates, he built the first British motor car with an internal combustion engine. Died Walth...

Person, Engineering

1 memorial
William Rankine

William Rankine

Born Edinburgh. Physicist. Worked in thermodynamics. Never married but was musical and wrote humorous songs. Died Glasgow.

Person, Engineering, Scotland

2 memorials