John Roebling

Engineer

Birthday June 12, 1806

Birth Sign Gemini

Birthplace Germany

DEATH DATE Jul 22, 1869 (63)

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About

Remembered best for designing the Brooklyn Bridge, this 19th-century civil engineer helmed numerous other major projects, including the Niagara Falls Suspension Bridge; the Allegheny Bridge in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; and the John A. Roebling Suspension Bridge (which connects Ohio and Kentucky).

Before Fame

Before beginning his work in the United States, he studied engineering, architecture, hydraulics, and construction in Berlin, Germany.

Trivia

Tragically, while Roebling was investigating the future site of the Brooklyn Bridge, his foot was injured so badly by a boat that his toes had to be amputated. He then developed tetanus, a condition that quickly led to his death.

Family Life

A native of Muhlhausen, Germany (then Prussia), Roebling grew up with three older siblings. His marriage to Johanna Herting produced five sons and four daughters; his oldest son, Washington Roebling, also contributed to the design and construction of the Brooklyn Bridge.

Associated With

Roebling and Golden Gate Bridge engineer Joseph Strauss were both responsible for landmark American suspension bridges.