Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Dodd, George (1783-1827)
DODD, GEORGE (1783–1827), engineer, son of Ralph Dodd [q. v.], was educated by his father as a civil engineer and architect, practising with considerable distinction. He is stated to have been the projector and designer of Waterloo Bridge. This error arises from the fact of his being the resident engineer under John Rennie, to whose genius this work is entirely due. Dodd was so ‘imprudent as to resign this situation.’ He is said to have been the first projector of steamboats on the Thames, but his connection with the scheme was soon broken off, and he was much depressed by this disappointment, and by the want of encouragement for a plan for extinguishing fires at sea. He took to drink and was found in a state of complete destitution in the streets in September 1827. At his own request he was committed to the compter, where he refused to take medicine and died of exhaustion on 25 Sept. 1827. He left a son and daughter.
[Blackie's Popular Encyclopædia, 1841; Elihu Rich's Cyclopædia of Biography, 1854; Weale's London and its Vicinity; Gent. Mag. for 1827, ii. 468.]