Why has Benjamin Wright been called the father of American engineering?

Benjamin Wright is frequently referred to as the "father of American engineering" primarily because he served as the chief engineer for the Erie Canal, where he directed the construction of the project's middle and eastern divisions.1

During this monumental undertaking, there were no formal engineering schools in the United States. Consequently, the Erie Canal served as a vital training ground for a corps of self-taught engineers. Wright personally trained many of these individuals, who subsequently fanned out across the country to provide expertise for other canal and railroad projects. His leadership in overcoming the significant technological challenges of the Erie Canal—such as navigating over 150 meters of elevation—established a foundation for the profession in the United States.12