For an account of John Wilkinson see Lives of the Engineers, vol.ii.337, 356.

In the description of the first iron bridge given in that work we have, it appears, attributed rather more credit to Mr.Wilkinson than he is entitled to.

Mr.Darby was the most active promoter of the scheme, and had the principal share in the design.

Wilkinson nevertheless was a man of great energy and originality.

Besides being the builder of the first iron ship, he was the first to invent, for James Watt, a machine that would bore a tolerably true cylinder.