George Bradford Brainerd: Life and Legacy Early Life and Education Born: November 27, 1845, in Haddam Neck, Connecticut. Brainerd’s family moved to Brooklyn, New York, in 1846 where he spent most of his life. He attended Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) in Troy, New York, graduating in 1865 with a degree in civil engineering. While at RPI, Brainerd was a founding member of the Theta Xi fraternity. Professional Career as an Engineer Brainerd worked for the City of Brooklyn as a civil engineer for 17 years (1869-1886), rising to the position of Deputy Water Purveyor. Publ…