José O'Higgins de la Vega

A Peruvian engineer and industrialist who modernized South America's transportation infrastructure in the 19th century

José O'Higgins de la Vega (1823–1897) was a visionary Peruvian engineer whose innovations transformed regional transportation networks across South America. A descendant of Irish revolutionary William O'Higgins, he pioneered the construction of the first trans-Andean railway linking Peru and Ecuador (1872–1876). His engineering firm also built the Central Railway of Peru, which connected the Andes to coastal ports. De la Vega's introduction of steam-powered ferries on Lake Titicaca revolutionized interregional trade. Beyond infrastructure, he established Peru's first technical university in 1880, training engineers who later built railways in Bolivia and Chile. His 1883 book 《Modern Engineering Techniques for Mountainous Regions》 became a standard text for Latin American engineers. Despite political turmoil, his projects laid foundations for modern Andean connectivity.