jan 1, 1811 - Patented Bridge

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This year saw the first bridge to be patented by a woman, whose name was Sarah Guppy. She created a much safer method of bridge piling, one that eliminated the danger of being washed away by flooding and thus was much safer to use. While her patent was for a chain bridge that never came to fruition, it did inspire Thomas Telford to design and build his own suspension bridge in 1826, and she refused payment for her patent in favor of the benefit her idea had on humanity. Although her name was buried in history because she was a woman, she is responsible for the idea that led to safer bridges being built for various purposes, including the ability to carry traffic.

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