author
William Barclay Parsons
1859–1932
A pioneering civil engineer, he helped shape New York City’s first subway and advised on some of the biggest transportation projects of his era. He also wrote about engineering, travel, and military affairs, bringing a practical eye to fast-changing modern life.
1 Audiobook
Robert Fulton and the Submarine
by William Barclay Parsons
About the author
Born in New York City in 1859, William Barclay Parsons became one of the most influential American civil engineers of the early twentieth century. He studied at Columbia and later founded the firm that became Parsons Brinckerhoff, building a reputation for tackling large, complex public works.
He is especially remembered for his central role in planning and building New York’s first subway, a project that changed the city forever. His career also included work on railroads, canals, and other major infrastructure projects in the United States and abroad, as well as service in the U.S. Army.
Parsons was more than a builder of tunnels and transit lines. He wrote books and essays that reflected his wide interests, from engineering and transportation to observations drawn from travel and public service, making him a figure who connected technical skill with a broader view of the modern world.