Thurston, Robert Henry (1839–1903)

US mechanical engineer and educator. He was a pioneer and innovator in technical education. In 1871 he was asked to organize the department of mechanical engineering at the newly-formed Stevens Institute of Technology, Hoboken, New Jersey. He drew up a four-year course of instruction that included training students on actual research. To this end, he solicited research commissions from industrial firms and used the resultant income to purchase further equipment for the school laboratory.

Thurston was born in Providence, Rhode Island. When he was appointed secretary of the US Board to Test Iron, Steel, and Other Metals in 1875, the students at Stevens Institute of Technology did much of the laboratory work as part of their studies. In 1885 he was hired by Cornell University to reorganize Sibley College and make it a first-rate college of mechanical engineering. He remained there until his death. His own research was primarily on the reciprocating steam engine.