👉 Engineering became a distinct profession in the late 18th and early 19th centuries, evolving from a craft-based practice to a systematic discipline grounded in scientific principles. Pioneered by figures like Joseph-Louis Lagrange and later formalized by the French Academy of Sciences, engineering shifted focus from artisanal trades to quantifiable, reproducible processes, emphasizing mathematics, experimentation, and theoretical rigor. This transformation was accelerated by industrialization, which demanded standardized solutions for infrastructure, machinery, and manufacturing, leading to the establishment of engineering schools, professional organizations, and codes of practice that defined the field as a structured, knowledge-driven profession.
