The late 18th century and early 19th century saw the founding of many learned societies and professional bodies (for example, the
Royal Society and the
Law Society). Groups calling themselves civil engineers had been meeting for some years from the late 18th century, notably the
Society of Civil Engineers formed in 1771 by
John Smeaton (renamed the Smeatonian Society after his death). At that time, formal engineering in Britain was limited to the military engineers of the Corps of
Royal Engineers, and in the spirit of self-help prevalent at the time and to provide a focus for the fledgling 'civilian engineers', the Institution of Civil Engineers was founded as the world's first professional engineering body. The initiative to found the Institution was taken in 1818 by eight young engineers,
Henry Robinson Palmer (23), William Maudslay (23), Thomas Maudslay (26),
James Jones (28), Charles Collinge (26), John Lethbridge,
James Ashwell (19) and
Joshua Field (32), who held an inaugural meeting on 2 January 1818, at the Kendal Coffee House in
Fleet Street. The institution made little headway until a key step was taken – the appointment of
Thomas Telford as the first President of the body. Greatly respected within the profession and blessed with numerous contacts across the industry and in government circles, he was instrumental in drumming up membership and getting a
Royal Charter for ICE in 1828. This official recognition helped establish ICE as the pre-eminent organisation for engineers of all disciplines. Early definitions of a Civil Engineer can be found in the discussions held on 2 January 1818 and in the application for Royal Chartership. In 1818 Palmer said that: {{cquote The objects of such institution, as recited in the charter, and reported in
The Times, were in London After Telford's death in 1834, the organisation moved into premises in
Great George Street in the heart of
Westminster in 1839, and began to publish learned papers on engineering topics. Its members, notably
William Cubitt, were also prominent in the organisation of the
Great Exhibition of 1851. For 29 years ICE provided the forum for engineers practising in all the disciplines recognised today. Mechanical engineer and tool-maker
Henry Maudslay was an early member and
Joseph Whitworth presented one of the earliest papers – it was not until 1847 that the
Institution of Mechanical Engineers was established (with
George Stephenson as its first President). By the end of the 19th century, ICE had introduced examinations for professional engineering qualifications to help ensure and maintain high standards among its members – a role it continues today. The ICE's Great George Street headquarters, designed by
James Miller, was built by
John Mowlem & Co and completed in 1911.
Membership and professional qualification The institution is a membership organisation comprising 95,460 members worldwide (as of 31 December 2022); around three-quarters are located in the United Kingdom. • Student • Graduate (GMICE) • Associate (AMICE) • Technician (MICE) • Member (MICE) • Fellow (FICE) ICE is a licensed body of the
Engineering Council and can award the
Chartered Engineer (CEng),
Incorporated Engineer (IEng) and
Engineering Technician (EngTech) professional qualifications. Members who are Chartered Engineers can use the protected title Chartered Civil Engineer. ICE is also licensed by the
Society for the Environment to award the
Chartered Environmentalist (CEnv) professional qualification.
Publishing The Institution of Civil Engineers also publishes technical studies covering research and best practice in civil engineering. Under its commercial arm,
Thomas Telford Ltd, it delivers training, recruitment, publishing and contract services, such as the
NEC Engineering and Construction Contract. All the profits of Thomas Telford Ltd go back to the Institution to further its stated aim of putting civil engineers at the heart of society. The publishing division has existed since 1836 and is today called
ICE Publishing. ICE Publishing produces roughly 30 books a year, including the ICE Manuals series, and 30 civil engineering journals, including the ICE Proceedings in nineteen parts,
Géotechnique, and the
Magazine of Concrete Research. The ICE Science series is now also published by ICE Publishing. ICE Science currently consists of five journals:
Nanomaterials and Energy,
Emerging Materials Research,
Bioinspired, Biomimetic and Nanobiomaterials,
Green Materials and
Surface Innovations. Nineteen individual parts now make up the Proceedings, as follows: • After its demolition in 1910 to make way for
Government Offices Great George Street, the Institution moved to the other side of the street.
Proceedings of the Institution of Civil Engineers: Bridge Engineering •
Proceedings of the Institution of Civil Engineers: Civil Engineering •
Proceedings of the Institution of Civil Engineers: Construction Materials •
Proceedings of the Institution of Civil Engineers: Energy •
Proceedings of the Institution of Civil Engineers: Engineering and Computational Mechanics •
Proceedings of the Institution of Civil Engineers: Engineering History and Heritage •
Proceedings of the Institution of Civil Engineers: Engineering Sustainability •
Proceedings of the Institution of Civil Engineers: Forensic Engineering •
Proceedings of the Institution of Civil Engineers: Geotechnical Engineering •
Proceedings of the Institution of Civil Engineers: Ground Improvement •
Proceedings of the Institution of Civil Engineers: Management, Procurement and Law •
Proceedings of the Institution of Civil Engineers: Maritime Engineering •
Proceedings of the Institution of Civil Engineers: Municipal Engineer •
Proceedings of the Institution of Civil Engineers: Smart Infrastructure and Construction •
Proceedings of the Institution of Civil Engineers: Structures and Buildings •
Proceedings of the Institution of Civil Engineers: Transport •
Proceedings of the Institution of Civil Engineers: Urban Design and Planning •
Proceedings of the Institution of Civil Engineers: Waste and Resource Management •
Proceedings of the Institution of Civil Engineers: Water Management ICE members, except for students, also receive the
New Civil Engineer magazine (published weekly from 1995 to 2017 by
Emap, now published monthly by
Metropolis International).
Specialist Knowledge Societies The ICE also administers 15 Specialist Knowledge Societies created at different times to support special interest groups within the civil engineering industry, some of which are British sections of international and/or European bodies. The societies provide continuing professional development and assist in the transfer of knowledge concerning specialist areas of engineering. The Specialist Knowledge Societies are: ==Governance==