When did civil engineering become recognized as a profession separate from military engineering?

The term "civil engineering" was first used in the 18th century to distinguish the profession from military engineering, which had previously been the preeminent form of the discipline.1

While engineering has been applied to peaceful, public-facing projects since ancient times, the formal recognition of civil engineering as a distinct profession emerged during the 18th century as expert knowledge became codified and design began to rely more on scientific calculation than on empirical rules of thumb. A significant milestone in this transition was the founding of the Bridge and Highway Corps in France in 1716, which led to the establishment of the École Nationale des Ponts et Chaussées in 1747.12

In Great Britain, John Smeaton—who is widely considered the founder of the civil engineering profession in that country—was the first to identify himself as a civil engineer. In 1771, Smeaton founded the Society of Civil Engineers to promote the development of large-scale public works.32