<P> With the rise of engineering as a profession in the 18th century, the term became more narrowly applied to fields in which mathematics and science were applied to these ends . Similarly, in addition to military and civil engineering, the fields then known as the mechanic arts became incorporated into engineering . </P> <P> The inventions of Thomas Newcomen and James Watt gave rise to modern mechanical engineering . The development of specialized machines and machine tools during the industrial revolution led to the rapid growth of mechanical engineering both in its birthplace Britain and abroad . </P> <P> John Smeaton was the first self - proclaimed civil engineer and is often regarded as the "father" of civil engineering . He was an English civil engineer responsible for the design of bridges, canals, harbours, and lighthouses . He was also a capable mechanical engineer and an eminent physicist . Smeaton designed the third Eddystone Lighthouse (1755--59) where he pioneered the use of' hydraulic lime' (a form of mortar which will set under water) and developed a technique involving dovetailed blocks of granite in the building of the lighthouse . His lighthouse remained in use until 1877 and was dismantled and partially rebuilt at Plymouth Hoe where it is known as Smeaton's Tower . He is important in the history, rediscovery of, and development of modern cement, because he identified the compositional requirements needed to obtain "hydraulicity" in lime; work which led ultimately to the invention of Portland cement . </P> <P> The United States census of 1850 listed the occupation of "engineer" for the first time with a count of 2,000 . There were fewer than 50 engineering graduates in the U.S. before 1865 . In 1870 there were a dozen U.S. mechanical engineering graduates, with that number increasing to 43 per year in 1875 . In 1890, there were 6,000 engineers in civil, mining, mechanical and electrical . </P>

Who is referred to as the father of engineering education