Society of Civil Engineers

Society of Civil Engineers

Founding of the Society

Year Authority / Notes

1771 This founding date is supported on p.2 and p.3 of Watson.
On p. 26, Watson indicates that from its beginning in 1771 it was a group of engineers that dined together, so that they might get to know one another better, thereby avoiding potential hostility that might arise in their public dealings with one another. On the same page, he indicates that, when the Society renewed itself in 1793 after the death of Smeaton, one its founders, it took on the additional goal of
" promoting and communicating every branch of knowledge useful and necessary to the various and important branches of public and private works in civil engineering."

The Society does not appear ever to have published a journal.

Seat of the Society

City Authority / Notes

London
England Holborn, a borough of London, is given on p.3 of Watson as the place of founding. It seems likely, from information given at various places in Watson, that most, if not all, of the meetings have been held in London.

Name of the Society

Dates Name Authority

1771 - 1830 Society of Civil Engineers It was founded with this name in 1771 according to p.2 of Watson. It appears to have been called this until 1830 (see p.87 of Watson).

1830 - Smeatonian Society of Civil Engineers On p.87, Watson indicates that, in 1830, for the first time, the Society's rules and regulations gave this name for the Society. He adds that this has been its name ever since.

Society of Civil Engineers
Founding of the Society
Year	Authority / Notes
1771	This founding date is supported on p.2 and p.3 of Watson. On p. 26, Watson indicates that from its beginning in 1771 it was a group of engineers that dined together, so that they might get to know one another better, thereby avoiding potential hostility that might arise in their public dealings with one another. On the same page, he indicates that, when the Society renewed itself in 1793 after the death of Smeaton, one its founders, it took on the additional goal of " promoting and communicating every branch of knowledge useful and necessary to the various and important branches of public and private works in civil engineering." The Society does not appear ever to have published a journal.
Seat of the Society
City	Authority / Notes
London England	Holborn, a borough of London, is given on p.3 of Watson as the place of founding. It seems likely, from information given at various places in Watson, that most, if not all, of the meetings have been held in London.
Name of the Society
Dates	Name	Authority
1771 - 1830	*Society of Civil Engineers*	It was founded with this name in 1771 according to p.2 of Watson. It appears to have been called this until 1830 (see p.87 of Watson).
1830 -	*Smeatonian Society of Civil Engineers*	On p.87, Watson indicates that, in 1830, for the first time, the Society's rules and regulations gave this name for the Society. He adds that this has been its name ever since.