Dates

• Existence: 1845-1908
• Existence: 1845 - 1908

Biographical Note

Othniel Foster Nichols was born in Newport, Rhode Island in 1845. He apprenticed himself as a machinist for three years before entering Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in 1865. After his graduation in 1868, Nichols taught mathematics at Cooper Union and worked in Brooklyn under C. C. Martin, class of 1856, who was to become the Principal Assistant Engineer for the Brooklyn Bridge project, though Nichols never worked on the Brooklyn Bridge. He helped construct the first elevated railway in New York City before leaving for South America to work on bridge, road and tunnel construction under L. L. Buck, class of 1868, another eminent bridge engineer. Returning to the United States in 1875, Nichols married Jennie Swazeyin and held a succession of posts until he was named Resident Engineer of the Henderson Bridge over the Ohio River in 1882. From 1888 until 1895, Nichols served as Chief Engineer for the Brooklyn Elevated Railroad Company, building El bridges and contributing to professional journals. From 1895 to 1903 Nichols supervised the construction of the Williamsburg Bridge (New East River Bridge) as Principal Assistant Engineer. From 1903 until his sudden death in February of 1908, Nichols worked on the Manhattan Bridge, the third suspension bridge across the East River. As Chief Engineer to the New York City Department of Bridges and, later, as Consulting Engineer to the Department, he can be considered more responsible than any other person for the design of the Manhattan Bridge.

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