Scottish engineer and entrepreneur. At the time when Betancourt deployed his activities in Russia, he was running a huge mechanical and metallurgical factory that he had founded in St. Petersburg.

Baird had a personal talent that led him to the theoretical problems of the art of engineering. This impulse explains the fact how he established a close and longstanding collaboration with Betancourt and that he supported all his initiatives.

The contacts with Baird illustrate well the empirical-theoretical dualism of Betancourt. In addition to its symbolic value, this cooperation with Baird had an essential practical advantage, as the French and Spanish engineers of Betancourt’s environment hereafter were able to dispose of a vigorous experimental research laboratory (his famous mechanical manufacturing plant).

Between 1815 and 1817, Baird undertook for the first time in Russia, the construction of steamboats. Bazaine simultaneously and in parallel, at Betancourt’s initiative, began to study the laws of their motion. The paper resulting from this investigation is entitled Mémoire sur la théorie du mouvement des barques à vapeur et sur leur application à la navigation des canaux, des fleuves et des rivières (Thesis on the theory of motion of steam boats and their application to navigation on canals, rivers and streams). The practical experience analyzed in Bazaine’s work was acquired in Baird’s factories. In addition, the Scot began building experimental ships based on projects developed by Betancourt and Bazaine.

Later, with the construction of suspension bridges stimulated other inventions. In 1823 Betancourt proposed the siderometre project, a device designed to test the iron chains of the bridges. Made of metal as indicated by Baird and installed in one of his workshops that year, this powerful device was soon put into use by the communication engineers to test the quality of Russian iron. These experiments open up the way for other similar tests. Together they mark an epoch in physical metallurgy and materials testing.