Francis Egerton (1736-1803), English canal builder and founder of inland navigation. He commissioned the construction of a canal (across centre) to carry coal from Worsley to Manchester, England. The 16 kilometre (km) canal was extended in 1782 by 48 km to reach Liverpool. Thought as a child to be unintelligent, he spent his youth socialising before concentrating on his business interests. He was eccentric, refusing to read books and continually inspecting his canal. The canal's success prompted large-scale construction of waterways, providing the transport structure needed to support the Industrial Revolution. His titles included 3rd Duke of Bridgewater.