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A Man Without a Price

A Russian princess admitted defeat with a most gracious compliment.

January 1

A Man Without a Price
By Charles Maybury Archer

A Russian princess admitted defeat with a most gracious compliment.

John Smeaton (1724-1792) was an English engineer who made advances in water and steam power, and engineered bridges, canals, harbours and land drainage schemes. Such was his reputation that Empress Catherine of Russia, who had a high regard for English know-how, dangled the lure of her glittering Court and immense treasury in the hope of landing him.

Posted January 1

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Picture: By Dmitry Levitzky (1735-1822), via Wikimedia Commons. Public domain.. Source.

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