Engineering Education early 1800s

[Peter the Pirate]

I'm not sure if this should go here or in Occupations.

Anyway, I've recently come across a biography of my gr gr grandmother's brother and in it, it says that their father, Mathew Forster, born in 1807 in Northumberland, possibly Hexham area and who emigrated to Canada ~1830 was an Engineer and Machinist by trade. When he got to Canada he worked on steamships in the Great Lakes. Later he had a machine shop in Markham.

I was wondering if anyone could point me to a source for technical education in the Newcastle area in the early 1800s. Would he have gone to a university, or would he have apprenticed to an engineer? His father John "was engaged in the lead and coal mining business" so I'm assuming there was money for education.

Any assistance is appreciated!

Lyle