John Metcalf (civil engineer)

John Metcalf, known as Blind Jack of Knaresborough or Blind Jack Metcalf, was the first professional road builder to emerge during the Industrial Revolution. Blind from the age of six, Metcalf had an eventful life, which was documented by his own account just before his death. He was an accomplished diver, swimmer, card player and fiddler, but was better known for the period between 1765 and 1792 when he built about 180 miles (290 km) of turnpike road, mainly in the north of England and as such, he became known as one of the fathers of the modern road.

15 August 1717

Born on the same birth day (15 August): Alejandro González Iñárritu • Alfonso IX of León • Bernard Fanning • Carlos Roa • Casey Burgener • Catherine Doherty • Darrell K. Sweet • Ethel Barrymore • Freedom Neruda • Henry Howard, 15th Earl of Arundel • Inês Pedrosa • Jennifer Alexander • John Chisum • Louis de Broglie • Matthias Claudius • Petja Piiroinen • Richard F. Heck • Rita Shane • Régine Deforges • Tommy Aldridge

Born in the same month (August 1717): Louis François, Prince of Conti