Today in Technology History
(To receive "Today in Technology History" by e-mail, click here. To read past issues click here.)
August 3
Exactly two centuries ago, on August 3, 1801, Sir Joseph Paxton was born. An eminent horticulturist, he is best remembered for introducing a new era in architecture.
Paxton, the son of a poor English farmer, ran away from his family as a teenager. He took a job as a gardener; his work in that capacity earned the attention of the Duke of Devonshire, who in 1826 hired him to remodel his gardens. The duke became Paxton's patron and friend, and soon Paxton was manager of the duke's estate.
Paxton's landscaping experience led him to experiment with building fountains and greenhouses, and he quickly became an expert. He designed greenhouses with replaceable glass walls and light, strong supports. Paxton also invented special accessories, such as heated tanks to nurture tropical plants, and watering cans with very long spouts for reaching difficult places.
In a sense, Paxton's greenhouses are the ancestors of today's glass and steel office buildings. Paxton knew that his greenhouse designs would work on a larger scale, so he entered a competition to design the home for the historic Great Exhibition of 1851. His revolutionary plan beat out hundreds of others, and the gigantic glass and iron structure he designed, the Crystal Palace, is still remembered for its elegance. That building influenced modern architecture by showing that glass, a material with enormous aesthetic possibilities, was structurally sound.
Paxton was actively involved in the growth of railroads, and as a Member of Parliament he was interested in urban planning issues. The poor farmer's son died wealthy and famous in 1865.
Related links:
Click here to read a biography of Paxton, from the BBC.
Click here to read more about the Crystal Palace.
Paxton was also a renowned botanical illustrator. Click here to see some of his drawings of flowers.
| Biotechnology | Convergence | Creativity | Culture | E-conomics | Education |
| Equity | Gov't & Politics | Innovation | National Security | Personal Security |
For errors, broken links, questions or comments,
contact webmaster@tecsoc.org.
