John Loudon Macadam

John Loudon Macadam or McAdam (1756-1836), pioneer of road improvements whose name was given to the "marcadamising" of road surfaces

1756 Born in Ayr

On the death of his father, he was sent to his uncle, William, in New York; William was a merchant and John became a successful merchant too.

1775 Espousing the Royal cause, he was an agent selling prizes (ie captured ships) in the Port of New York.

1783 Compelled to return to Scotland he bought an estate in Ayrshire.

1786 Became manager of the British Tar Co at Muirkirk, a venture of his cousin, Archibald Cochrane, 9th Earl of Dundonald.

1786 Birth of son, James Nicoll Macadam

1790 He bought the company but hit commercial problems arising from a contract to supply coke to the Muirkirk Iron Co.

He took an interest in the roads in his part of Scotland, becoming involved in some of the relevant public bodies.

1798 Moved to Bristol, where his son John Loudon Junior was born

1806 Became Commissioner for Paving in Bristol

1811 Presented to Parliament material he had collected on the making and repair of the roads, later published as "Remarks on the present system of roadmaking". Proposed a new method of road-making, consisting of 2 layers of broken stones that would knit together under use.

1816 The Bristol Turnpike Trust elected him as their General Surveyor. He managed to reduce the cost of maintenance and improve the quality of the roads. His proposals on management of the roads and the sizes of the trusts were accepted more widely. John arranged for many of his relations to become surveyors at various trusts around the country.

1825 Moved to Hoddesdon, Herts.

1826 Under the Metropolis Roads Act, 14 trusts in Middlesex were combined; his son James was appointed surveyor.

1834 James was knighted although his father had earlier turned down such an honour.

1836 Died in Moffat

See Also

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Sources of Information

• Appletons' Cyclopedia of American Biography, 1600-1889
• A Biographical Dictionary of Civil Engineers in Great Britain by Skempton et al