Francis Egerton, the 3rd Duke Of Bridgewater

Francis Egerton was a wealthy landowner and entrepreneur considered the father of the inland waterways of Britain.

A sickly boy, held in low esteem by his mother, Francis became a duke after the death of his brother. Most of his life he spent on his estate in Worsley, near Manchester where he became passionately dedicated to development of the existing coal mining on the estate. Convinced that the coal could be transported at a lower coast if there was a better link with Manchester, Francis threw himself into the project of building the channels Worsley and Manchaster, and Manchester and Liverpool. Although the venture was financial risky in the ended it proved to be extremely profitable for Francis. He was able to extend his estates and purchase any land with coal seams. At the time of his death his fortune was estimated at £2.5m or £12.7bn in today's money.