...G WATSON Secretary sAddress t ot h e Council 1977-78 The Institution as learned society and qualifying body The Founders of the Institution on 2 January, 1818, stated only one object for the Institution, and this, embodied in the Royal Charter of 3 June, 1828, has been the sole object since...

... qualified recruits to it, 30 years laterfoundedthe equally famous Ecole des Ponts et Chauskes . The works of some of its teachers like Belidor, Navrier and de Prony became standard works on the mechanics of materials, machines and hydraulics. Men like Smeaton, Telford and Rennie learned French in order...