Bridgewater, FRANCIS EGERTON, third DUKE OF, the 'father of British inland navigation,' was born in 1736, and succeeded his elder brother as duke in 1748. In 1762–72 he constructed, after the plans of the celebrated Brindley, the earliest canal in England, 42 miles long, uniting Worsley with Manchester and Runcorn on the Mersey above Liverpool. The canal crossed the
Irwell by an aqueduct 39 feet high and 600 feet long. The duke exhausted his credit to the utmost on his undertaking, nobly restricting himself to the simplest fare for the sake of his idea, but his far-sightedness was equal to his public spirit, and great wealth ultimately flowed in upon him. The success of this canal gave an impulse to the internal navigation of England, and led to the extension of the canal-system throughout the kingdom. In 1873 the Bridgewater Canal was purchased from Lord Ellesmere for £989,612, including the plant, valued at £150,000; and in 1887 it was resold to the Manchester Ship Canal Company for £1,710,000. The duke took little part in politics, but belonged to Pitt's party. He died unmarried, March 8, 1803, and with his death the dukedom became extinct.