[Frederick Joseph]. English engineer, born in London in 1818. From his earliest boyhood he showed great interest in mechanics, as evinced by his endeavors to repeat, in a rough model, the steam-engines and winding machinery which he had seen at the age of nine. In 1834 he was apprenticed to John Hague, one of the old school of mechanical engineers, and after a varied experience in the employment of others, in 1853 began business on his own account as a civil engineer. In 1856 he was elected an associate of the Institution of Civil Engineers; in 1862 was transferred to full membership, and in 1884–85 had the honor of filling the position of president. He has also been president of the Institute of Mechanical Engineers, and in 1873 was elected a fellow of the Royal Society. In 1884 he was nominated to the position of chairman of the Executive Council of the Inventions Exhibition which was held in the following year. In 1881 he received the honor of knighthood; in 1888 was president of the British Association for the Advancement of Science; in 1889 was created a baronet. He is a brother of Lord Bramwell.
