Leonardo

Many famous people in the world have been trained as engineers, but have become successful in another source of prominence. Even though Leonardo Da Vinci was unsuccessful as an engineer, he has made an impact on the world as an artist that will live on forever.

Leonardo Da Vinci was born in the small town of Vinci, in Tuscany. Since he was a son of a wealthy Florentine notary and a peasant woman, he was given the best education that Florence could offer. Leonardo apprenticed Andrea del Verrocchio, who was the leading painter and sculptor of his day, who taught him how to develop the masterpieces that will be well known well after he’s dead.

“Leonardo entered the service of the duke of Milan, Ludovico Sforza, having written the duke an astonishing letter in which he stated that he could build portable bridges; that he knew the techniques of constructing bombardments and of making cannons; that he could build ships as well as armored vehicles, catapults, and other war machines; and that he could execute sculpture in marble, bronze, and clay (sangha).” The services is where he became the principal engineer in the dukes military enterprise.

Returning back to Florence, “Leonardo entered the service of Cesare Borgia, duke of Romagna and son and chief general of Pope Alexander VI,” where he also was the chiefs architect and engineer.