Robert Henry Thurston

Biography

Robert Henry Thurston devoted himself to the emerging field of mechanical engineering, bringing scientific method to the study of power, materials, and machines, and he mentored generations of students who came to rely on his thoughtful instruction. He championed industrial laboratories, founded journals, and articulated the responsibilities of engineers to society, helping to shape the profession at a formative moment.

Colleagues remember him for his generous patience and his insistence that scholarship serve the public good, and the engineering community continues to mark his resting place at North Burial Ground with gratitude.