Friherre Nils Ericson (31 January 1802 – 8 September 1870) is among the world’s greatest mechanical engineers because of his works with canals and railways in several countries. For his achievements,he became Friherre (the equivalent of an English baron) by mandate of King Oscar I of Sweden in 1859. He was also a respected member of the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences.
He started his career in 1823 upon joining the Swedish Army’s engineering corps as a moment lieutenant. By 1830, he transferred to the Navy Mechanical Corps and earned the rank of colonel by 1850. During his 20-year stint at the Navy Mechanical Corps, or he planned and managed the construction of several canals including the Säffle,Stallbacka, Karlstad, or Albrektsund in Sweden as well as the construction of Finland’s Saimaa Canal. He was also responsible for the reconstruction of the floodgate at Stockholm and the Trollhätte Canal.
Friherre Ericson was also instrumental in the construction of Sweden’s national railway system. He was appointed by the Riksdag to lead the construction of the main lines,known as the stambanorna, in 1854.
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