Not sure what 'average' is, but anyone who has ever known an engineer
would not describe them as average.<g>
RPI, Rennsalaer Polytechnic Institue was founded in 1824. They claim
to be the first engineering school in the US. I'm not sure if they were
teaching engineering in 1824.
Union College in Schenectady was founded in 1795. From their page;
" Science and technology became important areas of study soon after the
College began, and in 1845, Union became the first liberal arts college
to offer engineering."
I have a notebook (belonging to Henry NOTT) dated 1853 that has some
pretty interesting engineering formulae in it. Judging from the text and
his drawings I would say that an engineering degree was as difficult to
obtain in 1853 as it is today.
*Some* engineers were formally trained 150 years ago.
Sue asked;
> Circa 1875 and later, would the occupation of "Engineer"
> have been a generic, catch-all type of job classification
> ( like a "Mr. Fix It" )
I don't *think* that is likely. I think the distinction that you need
to make is whether he was a 'stationary engineer' (who worked on engines
that stayed in one place and ran machinery), a train engineer (who drove
a train or other moving machine) or a construction engineer who designed
things, etc.
jim
-- jjelbrec@aol.com or elbrecht@worldnet.att.com >From beautiful, upstate NY. Near Schenectady, the city that used to 'Light and haul the world'.