His son, Loammi Jr., has been called "the Father of Civil Engineering in America" by the Charlestown Historical Society, [1] though similar titles have also been applied to others, such as Benjamin Wright.

He surveyed and was responsible for the construction of the Middlesex Canal, but today he is perhaps best remembered for the Baldwin apple which he developed at his farm, or rather he recognized its potential and propagated it throughout the northeast.

Later he would walk from North Woburn to Cambridge with his younger friend and childhood neighbor, Benjamin Thompson, later Count Rumford, to attend the lectures of Professor John Winthrop at Harvard College.

In 1774, Baldwin enlisted in a regiment, and commanded the Woburn militia at the Battle of Lexington and Concord as a major.

As a major at the time he continues "I rode along a little before the main body, and when I was nigh Jacob Reed's (at present Durenville) I heard a great firing; proceeded on, soon heard that the Regulars had fired upon Lexington people and killed a large number of them.

At the beginning of the war, he enlisted in the 26th Continental Regiment commanded by Colonel Samuel Gerrish.

[4] Until the end of 1775, Baldwin and his men remained near Boston, but in April 1776, he was ordered with his command to New York City.

He was appointed high sheriff of Middlesex County in 1780, and was the first to hold office after the adoption of the state constitution.

His son Benjamin worked on the Boston Mill Dam until his early death at the age of 43.

257–259); and "Observations on Electricity and an Improved Mode of Constructing Lightning Rods," (Memoirs, Vol.

The first paper was written in 1783, and the "curious appearance" described was produced by raising an electrical kite at the time of a thunder shower.