Edward S. Shaw

Edward Sargent Shaw (October 26, 1853[1] – October 3, 1919[2]) was a prominent civil engineer who lived in Cambridge, Massachusetts.[3][4] Born on October 26, 1853, he spent most of his life in Cambridge, and graduated from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology with a bachelor's degree in civil engineering in the class of 1874; his thesis being a design for a Murphy-Whipple truss bridge.[5] Immediately following graduation he continued his studies in some non-degree capacity at his alma mater.[6] During his professional career, his office was located in Boston, Massachusetts.[7] He died of heart failure at the age of 65, on October 3, 1919.[3]

Edward S. Shaw
Born	October 26, 1853 Cambridge, Massachusetts, US
Died	October 3, 1919 (aged 65) Cambridge, Massachusetts, US
Resting place	Mt. Auburn Cemetery, Cambridge, Massachusetts
Alma mater	Massachusetts Institute of Technology (B.S.)
Occupation	Civil engineer mechanical engineer
Years active	1874 – c. 1917
Signature

Shaw was responsible for a number of bridges in New England, including:

• Bennett's Meadow Bridge, Northfield, Massachusetts
• Schell Bridge, Northfield, Massachusetts
• Bridge of Flowers, Shelburne Falls, Massachusetts
• Willimansett Bridge, Willimansett, Chicopee, Massachusetts

Shaw also held at least 3 patents, including one for the draw bridge, one for a railway superstructure design, and even a design for an electric locomotive. It is unknown if these designs were implemented in any capacity in his work.

• United States Patent 159,046, Edward S. Shaw, "Improvement in Joints for Iron Truss-Bridges", issued January 6, 1875
• United States Patent 361,029, Edward S. Shaw, "Elevated Railway Superstructure", issued April 12, 1887
• United States Patent 367,069, Edward S. Shaw, "Electric Locomotive", issued July 26, 1887
• United States Patent 564,164, Edward S. Shaw, "Bascule or Tilting Bridge", issued July 14, 1896

References

1. "McClellan, Tilles, Lick 3". RootsWeb WorldConnect Project. RootsWeb.com, Inc. Archived from the original on 13 June 2017. Retrieved 13 June 2017.
2. Bean, James W., ed. (17 March 1886). "Funeral of Edward S. Shaw". Old Cambridge. The Cambridge Chronicle. Cambridge, Massachusetts. p. 4. Retrieved 13 June 2017. Funeral services were held Sunday at 3 p.m. for Edward S. Shaw, of 10 Kirkland street, one of Cambridge's oldest residents, who died last week Friday of heart failure. The services were held from his late home and Rev. Dr. Samuel M. Crothers, pastor of the First church, Unitarian, officiated. Interment was in Mt. Auburn cemetery. Mr. Shaw was 65 years of age and had lived all his life in Cambridge. He was educated in the Cambridge schools and at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. For many years he did business in Boston as a consulting and civil engineer, but for the past few years he had been practically retired from business. He leaves no immediate survivors.
3. "Proceedings". Journal of the Boston Society of Civil Engineers. 6 (8): 7. October 1919. Retrieved 14 June 2012.
4. Bennett, Lola (August 1990). "Schell Memorial Bridge, HAER No. MA-111". Historic American Engineering Record. National Park Service. p. 10. Retrieved 14 June 2012.
5. Runkle, J.D., ed. (September 1874). President's Report for the Year Ending Sept. 30, 1874 (PDF). Boston: A.A. Kingman; Massachusetts Institute of Technology. p. 31. Archived from the original (PDF) on 21 June 2011.
6. Ibid, p. 204.
7. "Engineering News Directory of Engineers". Engineering News and American Railway Journal. 36 (27): iii. July 1896. Retrieved 14 June 2012.