McAdam, John (Loudon)

McAdam, John (Loudon)
born Sept. 21, 1756, Ayr, Ayrshire, Scot.
died Nov. 26, 1836, Moffat, Dumfriesshire

Scottish inventor of the macadam road surface.

He made an early fortune in his uncle's New York countinghouse (1770–83). Back in Scotland, he noted the poor condition of the highways near his estate and undertook experiments in road making. He recommended that roads be raised above the adjacent ground for good drainage and covered, first with larger stones and then with smaller stones, the whole mass to be bound with fine gravel or slag. In 1823 his views were officially adopted, and in 1827 he was appointed Britain's Surveyor General of Metropolitan Roads. Macadamization was quickly adopted in other countries and did much to facilitate travel and communication.

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  • McAdam, John Loudon — ▪ British inventor born Sept. 21, 1756, Ayr, Ayrshire, Scot. died Nov. 26, 1836, Moffat, Dumfriesshire  Scottish inventor of the macadam road (roads and highways) surface.       In 1770 he went to New York City, entering the countinghouse of a… …   Universalium

  • McAdam, John (Loudon) — (21 sep. 1756, Ayr, Ayrshire, Escocia–26 nov. 1836, Moffat, Dumfriesshire). Inventor escocés del proceso macadán para pavimentar caminos. Hizo temprana fortuna en la oficina de contabilidad de su tío en Nueva York (1770–83). De regreso en Escocia …   Enciclopedia Universal

  • John Loudon McAdam — (* 21. September 1756 in Ayr, Ayrshire, Schottland; † 26. November 1836 in Moffat, Dumfriesshire) war ein schottischer Ingenieur, der 1815 einen damals revolutionären und einfachen Straßenbelag erfand. Dieser diente …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • John Loudon McAdam — For other people named John McAdam, see John McAdam (disambiguation). John Loudon McAdam Born September 21, 1756 Ayr, Scotland Died November 26, 1836 …   Wikipedia

  • John Loudon McAdam — Retrato de John Loudon McAdam. John Loudon McAdam (21 de septiembre de 1756 en Ayr, Escocia 20 de noviembre de 1836 en Moffat) fue un ingeniero escocés. Dedicó su vida a la construcción de carreteras, área en la que inventó un nuevo proceso que… …   Wikipedia Español

  • John Loudon McAdam — Pour les articles homonymes, voir John McAdam. John Loudon McAdam. John Loudon McAdam est un ingénieur écossais (21 septembre 1756 26 novembre 1836). Curateur des routes en Écosse pui …   Wikipédia en Français

  • John McAdam — John Loudon McAdam John Loudon McAdam (* 21. September 1756 in Ayr, Ayrshire, Schottland; † 26. November 1836 in Moffat, Dumfriesshire) war ein schottischer Ingenieur, der 1815 einen damals revolutionären und einfachen Straßenbelag erfand. Dieser …   Deutsch Wikipedia

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  • john — /jon/, n. Slang. 1. a toilet or bathroom. 2. (sometimes cap.) a fellow; guy. 3. (sometimes cap.) a prostitute s customer. [generic use of the proper name] * * * I known as John Lackland born Dec. 24, 1167, Oxford, Eng. died Oct. 18/19, 1216,… …   Universalium

  • John — /jon/, n. 1. the apostle John, believed to be the author of the fourth Gospel, three Epistles, and the book of Revelation. 2. See John the Baptist. 3. (John Lackland) 1167? 1216, king of England 1199 1216; signer of the Magna Carta 1215 (son of… …   Universalium

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