Richard Lovell Edgeworth (May 31, 1744-June 13, 1817) was an English writer and inventor. Born in Bath, England, he lived in Ireland. He was the father of Maria Edgeworth and 21 other children, (by his 4 wives), and grandfather to Francis Ysidro Edgeworth. A Trinity College and Oxford alumnus, he is credited, among other inventions, for creating a machine to measure the size of a plot of land. He also made strides in the developing educational methods. He invented the caterpillar track in 1770. He died June 13, 1817.