Roebling, ROHB lihng, Washington Augustus (1837-1926), became chief engineer on the Brooklyn Bridge in 1869, succeeding his father, John A. Roebling. During construction of the bridge foundations, the younger Roebling was stricken with caisson disease, a painful disosrder caused by rapid change of pressure, which left him an invalid the remainder of his life. He directed the completion of the bridge by inspecting the work with field glasses from his sickroom window. He was born in Saxonburg, Pennsylvania.