John Loudon McAdam
(1756-1836)

Died aged 80

John Loudon McAdam (23 September 1756 – 26 November 1836) was a Scottish civil engineer and road-builder. He invented a new process, "macadamisation", for building roads with a smooth hard surface, using controlled materials of mixed particle size and predetermined structure, that would be more durable and less muddy than soil-based tracks. Modern road construction still reflects McAdam's influence. Of subsequent improvements, the most significant was the introduction of tar (originally coal tar) to bind the road surface's stones together, "tarmac" (for Tar Macadam.)

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Commemorated on 4 plaques

In this old churchyard is the ruin of a pre-reformation church bearing coats of arms of the Johnstone and Maxwell families. Among gravestones of interest is that to the memory of John Loudon McAdam, of roadmaking fame and those to the memories of James McGeorge and John Goodfellow Guard and Driver respectively, of a Royal Mail coach who lost their lives in a snowstorm north of Devil's Beef Tub in 1831

High Street, Moffat, United Kingdom where they was buried (1836)

Inventor of Macadam Roads. John McAdam 1756 - 1836. System of Road Making 1810. Surveyor Bristol Turnpikes 1815. Bridge Valley Road built 1823.

Anchor Road, Bristol, United Kingdom where they worked near (1810-1823)

John Loudon McAdam roadmaker lived in this house 1825-1836

68 High Street, Hoddesdon, United Kingdom where they lived (1825-1836)

John Loudon McAdam Roadmaker lived in this house 1825-1836

68 High Street, Hoddesdon, United Kingdom where they lived