author
Jr. Lindon Bates
1883–1915
An engineer, civic reformer, and writer from a prominent American family, he brought practical ideas to public life and wrote about politics, economics, and modern cities. His promising career was cut short in 1915 when he died in the sinking of the Lusitania.
1 Audiobook
The Russian road to China
by Jr. Lindon Bates
About the author
Born in Portland, Oregon, in 1883, he was the son of engineer Lindon Wallace Bates and author Josephine White Bates. He was educated at Harrow in England and later attended Yale, then built a reputation as an engineer with a strong interest in public affairs.
He wrote several books and articles on engineering, government, and economic questions, and he also became active in New York politics and municipal reform. That mix of technical training and civic engagement shaped both his writing and his public image.
His life ended on May 7, 1915, when he died in the sinking of the RMS Lusitania. Even with a short career, he was remembered as an energetic public-minded figure whose work connected engineering, policy, and reform.