John Loudon McAdam Scottish road engineer Date of Birth: 21.09.1756 Country: Great Britain

1. Biography of John Loudon McAdam
2. Private Entrepreneurship and Road Construction
3. McAdam's Road Building Techniques
4. Legacy and Death

Biography of John Loudon McAdam

John Loudon McAdam, a Scottish civil engineer, made an invaluable contribution to road construction in Britain. He was born on September 21, 1756, in Scotland and spent his childhood and youth in America. McAdam accumulated a considerable fortune through financial operations in the United States and returned to Scotland in 1783.

Private Entrepreneurship and Road Construction

Starting from 1898, McAdam engaged in private entrepreneurship. In 1806, he began taking contracts for road construction and developed a methodological system for building and repairing roads, which he later applied in England. His roads had a high resistance to wear and were slightly raised, as he believed that the movement of traffic would compress the soil and make the pavement stronger.

McAdam's Road Building Techniques

McAdam devised a reliable road surface consisting of crushed stone and gravel, which were densely laid in thick layers to form a sturdy roadbed, while also improving drainage. The roads he constructed proved their reliability in operation. McAdam's ideas on road construction were universally accepted after parliamentary discussion in 1823. In 1827, he was appointed as Britain's Chief Road Engineer.

Legacy and Death

John Loudon McAdam passed away on November 26, 1836. To honor his significant contributions to road construction, the largest construction materials company in the United Kingdom is named Tarmac, after the road surfacing composition that McAdam invented.