History of Engineering

Early beginnings and the start of a profession:

Engineering didn’t become a profession until the Industrial Revolution, around the end of the 18th century.  Before that, craftsmen, tradespeople, and citizens of all sorts invented things, but people didn’t identify as “an engineer,” or someone who designs and invents things as a profession.

In the beginning, engineering was mostly confined to the military. In the U.S., George Washington appointed the first engineering officers in the Army during the American Revolution and created the first U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.They played a crucial role in the war but disbanded at its end.

Later the new federal government created another group to serve the same purpose, and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers was officially established in 1802.  Their first role was to develop and maintain fortifications to protect important military targets. With time they began to engage in more civil projects that supported exploration, flood control, and transportation. This led to the creation of important infrastructure like the Erie Canal, railroads, the Brooklyn Bridge, and water supply systems. These sorts of projects helped to fuel economic growth in the US and advanced the reputation of engineering in the country. 

Early Engineering Education and connection with the military

The emergence of engineering as a career meant the related need to find ways to train new engineers. Formal engineering education began in the US with institutions like the Military Academy at West Point (1817).  It was soon followed by Norwich University (1819), and Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (1825), which offered the first U.S. civil engineering degree in 1835.  The first two of these were military school, but Rensselaer was founded separately with a new emphasis on experiential learning.  However, in 1847 after the death of the school’s founders, a new director reorganized much of the school’s curriculum based upon European military education program.

It is hard to say how much the close association with the military influences how engineers are still trained today. However, it does seem clear that engineering and related professions have suffered from some of the same problems that have plagued the US military.  Specifically, these include a sense of elitism and the inclination to exclude women and people of color. 

The early training selected for engineers generally included high-level instruction in math and science.  While engineers were expected to be familiar with these fields, they were intended to put them to practical use rather than to expand the knowledge themselves.   This is often identified as a primary difference between engineering and science.  However, many scientists or mathematicians have worked on engineering teams doing engineering work, and engineers often go into research.  This can lead to confusion between these highly related fields, but it’s clear that people with a broad range of backgrounds and education have contributed to all of them.

Emergence of Specialized Fields:

In the beginning there were generally only two or three recognized types of engineering. There was military engineering (sometimes divided into military and naval engineering) and then civil engineering, which grew from surveying and the need to create large public works.   As the world and the nation grew, technology advanced. That led to engineers who specialize in a variety of fields. Professional societies formed to define and advance these disciplines.  Below are just a few of them, but as technology advances new fields continue to emerge:

• Civil Engineering – The American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) was founded in 1852.
• Mining and Metallurgical Engineering – The American Institute of Mining, Metallurgical, and Petroleum Engineers (AIME) was founded in 1871.
• Mechanical Engineering – The American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) was founded in 1880.
• Electrical Engineering – The American Institute of Electrical Engineers (AIEE) was formed in 1884. It later merged with the Institute of Radio Engineers to become the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) in 1963.
• Chemical Engineering – The American Institute of Chemical Engineers was established in 1908.

The 19th century: Crucial inventions

The 19th century saw many crucial inventions and innovations that were driven by engineering. These included the electric telegraph (1837), the modern sewing machine (1844), the telephone (1876), and the practical electric light bulb (1879). The development of Portland cement (1824) and a process for mass producing steel (1856) were also significant because they provided new materials for advanced construction.

The 20th Century: Great Achievements

The 20th Century marked an explosion of engineering achievements in electricity, travel, communications and more.  These innovations transformed human life around the globe. At the turn of the century, the NAE compiled a list of transformational technologies.  We’ve preserved them in our list of Great 20th Century Engineering Achievements.

The 21st Century: and Beyond: Global Challenges

Today, engineering is still evolving at a rapid pace. Engineers are working to address global challenges, develop cutting-edge technologies, and change the way new products are developed. Some of the transformations in process are addressing sustainability, health, safety, learning, and entertainment. Engineers today are making tomorrow’s history!