Louis Wernwag

Louis Wernag (December 4, 1769 in Altenburg, Württemberg, Holy Roman Empire – August 12, 1843 in Hapers Ferry, Virginia) was a bridge builder in the United States in the early 19th century.

On leaving school, in order to evade military service, he was secreted by a shepherd in the mountains, who directed his attention to the study of astronomy, natural history, and other scientific subjects.

While conducting this business he purchased land containing large quantities of white oak and pine timber in New Jersey, from which he got out, about 1809, the keel for the first U. S. frigate built at the Philadelphia Navy Yard.

[2] In 1813 he moved to Phoenixville, Pennsylvania, where he took an interest in and charge of the Phoenix Nail Works, and there invented the first machine for cutting and heading spikes from four to seven inches in length.

[1] The canals of the Schuylkill Navigation Company, some of the first in the United States, were partially constructed by him, and the Fairmount Water Works and dam at Philadelphia were erected in accordance with his plans.