William Milnor Roberts
William Milnor Roberts (February 12, 1810 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania – July 14, 1881 in Soledad, Brazil) was an American civil engineer. Roberts was one of the most prolific and prominent civil engineer of his generation in the United States. As a young civil engineer, he was involved in the construction of the Eads Bridge, held the title of the chief engineer of Northern Pacific Railroad, and was president of the American Society of Civil Engineers scarcely two decades after its founding, Early life and career. William was born to Thomas Paschall and Mary Louise (Baker) Roberts in 1810 . William was educated in private schools in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He spent two terms taking a special course in mathematics taught by Joseph Roberts, a prominent mathematician, and a course in architectural drawing under John Haviland at the Franklin Institute. William pursued a career in civil engineering on the advice of Samuel Mifflin, the then president of the Union Canal Company of Pennsylvania and friend of his father. He took up employment at the Union Canal of Pennsylvania in the spring of 1825. At the age of 18, William was promoted to the head of the team in charge of the  most difficult section of the Lehigh Canal. William continued to further his education, focusing on mathematics, after beginning his career in engineering. Family. William married Annie Gibson in June, 1837. They had six children together, including his son Milnor Roberts. Anne died in 1857. William later married Adeline de Beelen-Bertholff in November, 1868, and the couple had four children. Death. William died of typhoid fever in Soledad, Brazil, July 14, 1881. References. 7. Zagros Mountains, Iran - Geographical Names, Map, Geographic Coordinates, geographic.org/geographic_names/name.php?uni=-946848&fid=821&c=brazil.