Ralph Modjeski

Ralph Modjeski ( born January 27, 1861, Rudolf Modrzejewski in Bochnia near Krakow, † June 26, 1940 in Los Angeles ) was a Polish -born American engineer, known primarily for its bridges.

Life

Rudolf Modrzejewski was the illegitimate son of Helena Modrzejewska, a famous theater actress and Gustav Mayer sense (or Gustav Zimajer ), a friend of the family. At 15, he went with his mother and her husband Karol Chłapowski in the United States.

For the study, he went to Paris, where he graduated in 1885 as valedictorian at École Nationale des Ponts et Chaussées. In 1883 he became an American citizenship and changed his name to Ralph Modjeski. In 1885 he returned to America and married the Polish -born Felicie Benda, with whom he had three children. In 1931, he married Virginia Mary Giblyn. Until his death he maintained contacts to the old country.

Modjeski was involved in various projects, especially on the numerous bridges in the United States. In 1895 he opened his own engineering firm in Chicago. His first project as an independent chief engineer was the railroad bridge over the Mississippi River in Rock Iceland in Illinois. In 1907 he took over the construction management of failed engineered Quebec Bridge after 75 workers crashed in an accident at the construction site. It is still the longest cantilever truss bridge in the world.

Ralph Modjeski is honored as " America's greatest bridge builder". He received many honors, and A in 1930, the John Fritz Medal.

He died on June 26, 1940 in Los Angeles, California.

Important projects

Rock Island (Illinois) Integrated Authority File
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