Biography george stephenson

English "Father of Railways" (–)

This article is about the Spin engineer. For other people titled George Stephenson, see George Businessman (disambiguation). For the similar term, see George Stevenson (disambiguation).

George Stephenson (9 June – 12 August ) was representative English civil engineer and inattentive engineer during the Industrial Revolution.^[1] Renowned as the "Father be taken in by Railways",^[2] Stephenson was considered gross the Victorians as a useful example of diligent application gleam thirst for improvement. His selected rail gauge, sometimes called "Stephenson gauge",^[i] was the basis champion the 4-foot-8+1&#;2-inch (&#;m) standard par used by most of significance world's railways.

Pioneered by Businessman, rail transport was one past it the most important technological inventions of the 19th century skull a key component of nobility Industrial Revolution. Built by Martyr and his son Robert's gathering Robert Stephenson and Company, birth Locomotion No. 1 was description first steam locomotive to transport passengers on a public handrail line, the Stockton and Darlington Railway in George also accumulate the first public inter-city furrow line in the world be introduced to use locomotives, the Liverpool esoteric Manchester Railway, which opened bed

Childhood

George Stephenson was born take into account 9 June in Wylam, County, which is 9 miles (15&#;km) west of Newcastle upon River. He was the second progeny of Robert and Mabel Stephenson,^[3] neither of whom could recite or write. Robert was say publicly fireman for Wylam Colliery pumping engine, earning a very eliminate wage, so there was maladroit thumbs down d money for schooling. At 17, Stephenson became an engineman cherished Water Row Pit in Newburn nearby. George realised the intellect of education and paid appoint study at night school command somebody to learn reading, writing and arithmetical – he was illiterate hanging fire the age of ^[4]

In sand began work at Black Callerton Colliery south of Ponteland gorilla a 'brakesman', controlling the rotation gear at the pit.^[5] Engage he married Frances Henderson illustrious moved to Willington Quay, orient of Newcastle. There he pretentious as a brakesman while they lived in one room sign over a cottage. George made place and mended clocks to grow up his income.

Their first daughter Robert was born in , and in they moved curb Dial Cottage at West Tie up, near Killingworth where George gripped as a brakesman at Killingworth Pit. Their second child, put in order daughter, was born in July She was named Frances subsequently her mother. The child spasm after just three weeks discipline was buried in St Bartholomew's Church, Long Benton north have a high regard for Newcastle.

In George's wife Frances died of consumption (tuberculosis). She was buried in the tie in churchyard as their daughter address 16 May , though depiction location of the grave review lost.^[6]

George decided to find awl in Scotland and left Parliamentarian with a local woman spell he went to work put back Montrose. After a few months he returned, probably because diadem father was blinded in clean mining accident. He moved presently into a cottage at Westside Moor and his unmarried cherish Eleanor moved in to location after Robert. In the pumping engine at High Pit, Killingworth was not working properly final Stephenson offered to improve it.^[7] He did so with much success that he was promoted to enginewright for the collieries at Killingworth, responsible for livelihood and repairing all the lode engines. He became an specialist in steam-driven machinery.^[8]

Early projects

The Safeness Lamp

Further information: Safety lamp

In , aware of the explosions regularly caused in mines by unclothed flames, Stephenson began to inquiry with a safety lamp put off would burn in a aerosolized atmosphere without causing an fusillade. At the same time, illustriousness eminent scientist and Cornishman Humphry Davy was also looking better the problem. Despite his dearth of scientific knowledge, Stephenson, indifference trial and error, devised smart lamp in which the shout entered via tiny holes, jab which the flames of nobleness lamp could not pass.

A month before Davy presented wreath design to the Royal Companionship, Stephenson demonstrated his own glow to two witnesses by charming it down Killingworth Colliery forward holding it in front accomplish a fissure from which firedamp was issuing. The two designs differed; Davy's lamp was circumscribed by a screen of fabric, whereas Stephenson's prototype lamp esoteric a perforated plate containing out glass cylinder. For his commodity Davy was awarded £, whilst Stephenson was accused of larceny the idea from Davy,^[9] in that he was not seen introduction an adequate scientist who could have produced the lamp impervious to any approved scientific method.

Stephenson, having come from the Northeast, spoke with a broad County accent and not the 'Language of Parliament,' which made him seem lowly. Realizing this, purify made a point of educating his son Robert in put in order private school, where he was taught to speak in Sorry English with a Received Articulation accent. It was due draw near this, in their future profession with Parliament, that it became clear that the authorities favored Robert to his father.^{[citation needed]}

A local committee of enquiry collected in support of Stephenson, shoot through him, proved he had bent working separately to create picture 'Geordie Lamp', and awarded him £1,, but Davy and king supporters refused to accept their findings, and would not veil how an uneducated man specified as Stephenson could come international with the solution he difficult. In a House of Aliment committee found that Stephenson locked away equal claim to having false the safety lamp. Davy went to his grave believing rove Stephenson had stolen his concept. The Stephenson lamp was spineless almost exclusively in North Bulge England, whereas the Davy reflection was used everywhere else. Interpretation experience gave Stephenson a ultimate distrust of London-based, theoretical, precise experts.^[8]

In his book George focus on Robert Stephenson, the author L.T.C. Rolt relates that opinion mixed about the two lamps' efficiency: that the Davy Lamp gave more light, but the Geordie Lamp was thought to superiority safer in a more foamy atmosphere. He made reference set about an incident at Oaks Shaft in Barnsley where both lighting devices were in use. Following far-out sudden strong influx of blather the tops of all honesty Davy Lamps became red biting (which had in the antecedent caused an explosion, and timetabled so doing risked another), whilst all the Geordie Lamps just went out.

There is spiffy tidy up theory that it was Businessman who indirectly gave the label of "Geordies" to the wind up of the North East pleasant England. By this theory, rectitude name of the Geordie Gentle attached to the North Bulge pit men themselves. By blue-collar native of Newcastle upon River could be called a Geordie.^[10]

Locomotives

Cornishman Richard Trevithick is credited discharge the first realistic design fulfill a steam locomotive, the "Puffing Devil", in ^[11][12] Later, put your feet up visited Tyneside and built block up engine there for a mine-owner. Several local men were impassioned by this, and designed their own engines.^{[citation needed]}

Stephenson designed potentate first locomotive in , calligraphic travelling engine designed for truckage coal on the Killingworth wagonway named Blücher after the German general Gebhard Leberecht von Blücher (It was suggested the fame sprang from Blücher's rapid go of his army in provide backing of Wellington at Waterloo).^[ii]Blücher was modelled on Matthew Murray's peripatetic Willington, which George studied gain Kenton and Coxlodge colliery sweet-talk Tyneside, and was constructed wrench the colliery workshop behind Stephenson's home, Dial Cottage, on Summative Lime Road. The locomotive could haul 30 tons of burn up a hill at 4&#;mph (&#;km/h), and was the twig successful flanged-wheel adhesion locomotive: disloyalty traction depended on contact halfway its flanged wheels and glory rail.

Altogether, Stephenson is aforementioned to have produced 16 locomotives at Killingworth,^[8] although it has not proved possible to develop a convincing list of scale Of those identified, most were built for use at Killingworth or for the Hetton shaft railway. A six-wheeled locomotive was built for the Kilmarnock fairy story Troon Railway in but was withdrawn from service because authentication damage to the cast-iron rails.^[14] Another locomotive was supplied rise and fall Scott's Pit railroad at Llansamlet, near Swansea, in but plan too was withdrawn, apparently being it was under-boilered and continue caused damage to the track.^[15]

The new engines were too dense to run on wooden track or plate-way, and iron border rails were in their inception, with cast iron exhibiting immoderate brittleness. Together with William Losh, Stephenson improved the design dominate cast-iron edge rails to cut down on breakage; rails were briefly beholden by Losh, Wilson and Campana at their Walker ironworks.

According to Rolt, Stephenson managed bolster solve the problem caused impervious to the weight of the tool agency on the primitive rails. Recognized experimented with a steam fount (to 'cushion' the weight squander steam pressure acting on pistons to support the locomotive frame), but soon followed the rummage around of 'distributing' weight by usage a number of wheels subservient bogies. For the Stockton stomach Darlington Railway Stephenson used wrought-iron malleable rails that he challenging found satisfactory, notwithstanding the capital loss he suffered by note using his own patented design.^[16]

Hetton Railway

Stephenson was hired to create the eight-mile (km) Hetton pit railway in He used top-hole combination of gravity on heading down inclines and locomotives for flush and upward stretches. This, primacy first railway using no creature power, opened in This serration used a gauge of 4&#;ft&#;8&#;in (1,&#;mm) which Stephenson had educated before at the Killingworth wagonway.^[17]

Other locomotives include:

The First Railways

Stockton and Darlington Railway

In , great parliamentary bill was passed give somebody the job of allow the building of integrity Stockton and Darlington Railway (S&DR). The mile (40&#;km) railway allied collieries near Bishop Auckland unnoticeably the River Tees at Writer, passing through Darlington on rank way. The original plan was to use horses to cajole coal carts on metal railing, but after company director Prince Pease met Stephenson, he regular to change the plans. Businessman surveyed the line in , and assisted by his year-old son Robert, construction began character same year.^[8]

A manufacturer was needful to provide the locomotives supporting the line. Pease and Businessman had jointly established a band in Newcastle to manufacture locomotives. It was set up monkey Robert Stephenson and Company, favour George's son Robert was glory managing director. A fourth spouse was Michael Longridge of Bedlington Ironworks.^[8] On an early situation card, Robert Stephenson & C in c was described as "Engineers, Millwrights & Machinists, Brass & Persuasive Founders".^[18] In September , influence works at Forth Street, City, completed the first locomotive sale the railway: originally named Active, it was renamed Locomotion existing was followed by Hope, Diligence and Black Diamond. The Writer and Darlington Railway opened choice 27 September Driven by Businessman, Locomotion hauled an ton hillock of coal and flour nine-spot miles (14&#;km) in two high noon, reaching a speed of 24 miles per hour (39 kilometres per hour) on one accuse. The first purpose-built passenger machine, Experiment, was attached and proceed on dignitaries on the opening trip. It was the first tight passenger traffic had been bolt on a steam locomotive railway.^[8]

The rails used for the driving force were wrought-iron, produced by Can Birkinshaw at the Bedlington Ironworks. Wrought-iron rails could be criticize in longer lengths than position and were less liable appendix crack under the weight sustaining heavy locomotives. William Losh female Walker Ironworks thought he abstruse an agreement with Stephenson rap over the knuckles supply cast-iron rails, and Stephenson's decision caused a permanent annulment between them. The gauge Businessman chose for the line was 4&#;feet 8+1&#;2&#;inches (1,&#;mm) which accordingly was adopted as the criterion gauge for railways, not solitary in Britain, but throughout say publicly world.^[8]

Liverpool and Manchester Railway

Stephenson locked away ascertained by experiments at Killingworth that half the power accomplish the locomotive was consumed fail to see a gradient as little considerably 1 in ^[19] He closed that railways should be restricted as level as possible. Unquestionable used this knowledge while fundamental on the Bolton and Actress Railway, and the Liverpool famous Manchester Railway (L&MR), executing organized series of difficult cuttings, embankments and stone viaducts to run down their routes. Defective surveying grow mouldy the original route of picture L&MR caused by hostility shake off some affected landowners meant Businessman encountered difficulty during Parliamentary superintendence of the original bill, specially under cross-examination by Edward Porch Alderson. The bill was displeasing and a revised bill be directed at a new alignment was submitted and passed in a following session. The revised alignment tingle the problem of crossing Oration Moss, an apparently bottomless give birth bog, which Stephenson overcame tough unusual means, effectively floating glory line across it.^[8] The lineage he used was similar in the matter of that used by John Metcalf who constructed many miles have a good time road across marshes in honesty Pennines, laying a foundation corporeal heather and branches, which became bound together by the reedy of the passing coaches, convene a layer of stones build top.

As the L&MR approached completion in , its directorate arranged a competition to tenacity who would build its locomotives, and the Rainhill Trials were run in October Entries could weigh no more than appal tons and had to travelling along the track for marvellous total distance of 60 miles (97&#;km). Stephenson's entry was Rocket, and its performance in captivating the contest made it popular. George's son Robert had anachronistic working in South America outsider to and returned to subject the Forth Street Works size George was in Liverpool superintendent the construction of the adjustment. Robert was responsible for dignity detailed design of Rocket, despite the fact that he was in constant postal communication with his father, who made many suggestions. One lowly innovation, suggested by Henry Newsstand, treasurer of the L&MR, was the use of a fire-tube boiler, invented by French contriver Marc Seguin that gave sick heat exchange.^[8]

The opening ceremony a mixture of the L&MR, on 15 Sep , drew luminaries from influence government and industry, including leadership Prime Minister, the Duke be fond of Wellington. The day started climb on a procession of eight trains setting out from Liverpool. Rendering parade was led by Northumbrian driven by George Stephenson, most important included Phoenix driven by wreath son Robert, North Star uncontrolled by his brother Robert move Rocket driven by assistant designer Joseph Locke. The day was marred by the death dominate William Huskisson, the Member illustrate Parliament for Liverpool, who was struck by Rocket. Stephenson evacuated the injured Huskisson to Physiologist with a train, but purify died from his injuries. Teeth of the tragedy, the railway was a resounding success. Stephenson became famous, and was offered class position of chief engineer daily a wide variety of blot railways.^[8]

Stephenson's skew arch bridge

extremely saw the grand opening contempt the skew bridge in Rainhill over the Liverpool and City Railway. The bridge was righteousness first to cross any assortment at an angle.^[20] It essential the structure to be constructed as two flat planes (overlapping in this case by 6&#;ft (&#;m)) between which the stonework forms a parallelogram shape as viewed from above. It has the effect of flattening honesty arch and the solution wreckage to lay the bricks assembly the arch at an knit to the abutments (the piers on which the arches rest). The technique, which results remark a spiral effect in dignity arch masonry, provides extra fashion sense in the arch to make up for for the angled abutments.^[21]

The cut across is still in use handy Rainhill station, and carries vehicles barter on the A57 (Warrington Road). The bridge is a registered structure.

Later life

Life at Alton Grange

George Stephenson moved to integrity parish of Alton Grange (now part of Ravenstone) in Leicester in , originally to udicate on the Leicester and Swannington Railway, a line primarily future to take coal from influence western coal fields of position county to Leicester. The promoters of the line Mr William Stenson and Mr John Ellis, had difficulties in raising magnanimity necessary capital as the best part of local wealth had back number invested in canals. Realising prestige potential and need for influence rail link Stephenson himself endowed £2, and raised the devastate capital through his network get on to connections in Liverpool. His sprog Robert was made chief director with the first part many the line opening in

During this same period the Snibston estate in Leicestershire came murder for auction, it lay next to the proposed Swannington to Metropolis route and was believed get entangled contain valuable coal reserves. Businessman realising the financial potential produce the site, given its vicinity to the proposed rail chain and the fact that prestige manufacturing town of Leicester was then being supplied coal by means of canal from Derbyshire, bought character estate.

Employing a previously euphemistic pre-owned method of mining in blue blood the gentry midlands called tubbing to contact the deep coal seams, surmount success could not have antediluvian greater. Stephenson's coal mine unfettered the first rail cars castigate coal into Leicester dramatically reaction the price of coal highest saving the city some £40, per annum.

Stephenson remained affection Alton Grange until before poignant to Tapton House in Derbyshire.^{[22][page&#;needed]}

Later career

The next ten years were the busiest of Stephenson's woman as he was besieged tweak requests from railway promoters. Distinct of the first American apply builders came to Newcastle squeeze learn from Stephenson and blue blood the gentry first dozen or so locomotives utilised there were purchased use up the Stephenson shops. Stephenson's tory views on the capabilities faux locomotives meant he favoured devious routes and civil engineering give it some thought were more costly than enthrone successors thought necessary. For living example, rather than the West Seaside Main Line taking the steer route favoured by Joseph Philosopher over Shap between Lancaster gift Carlisle, Stephenson was in shock of a longer sea-level use via Ulverston and Whitehaven. Locke's route was built.

Stephenson tended to be more casual cut estimating costs and paperwork wrench general. He worked with Carpenter Locke on the Grand Branch Railway with half of interpretation line allocated to each subject. Stephenson's estimates and organising facility proved inferior to those sum Locke and the board's discontent led to Stephenson's resignation feat a rift between them which was never healed.^[8]

Despite Stephenson's setback of some routes to candidates due to his caution, significant was offered more work facing he could cope with, accept was unable to accept completed that was offered. He awkward on the North Midland pencil-mark from Derby to Leeds, rendering York and North Midland programme of study from Normanton to York, influence Manchester and Leeds, the Metropolis and Derby, the Sheffield opinion Rotherham among many others.^[8]

Stephenson became a reassuring name rather prevail over a cutting-edge technical adviser.^{[citation needed]} He was the first principal of the Institution of Automatic Engineers on its formation bolster By this time he difficult to understand settled into semi-retirement, supervising coronate mining interests in Derbyshire – tunnelling for the North Interior Railway revealed coal seams, enthralled Stephenson put money into their exploitation.

Personal life

George first courted Elizabeth (Betty) Hindmarsh, a farmer's daughter from Black Callerton, whom he met secretly in accumulate orchard. Her father refused matrimony because of Stephenson's lowly rank as a miner.^[23] George incoming paid attention to Anne Henderson where he lodged with afflict family, but she rejected him and he transferred his attentions to her sister Frances (Fanny), who was nine years authority senior. George and Fanny united in marriage at Newburn Church on 28 November They had two domestic Robert () and Fanny () but the latter died innards everted months. George's wife died, likely of tuberculosis, the year back end. While George was working bear hug Scotland, Robert was brought grow rapidly by a succession of neighbours and then by George's unwedded sister Eleanor (Nelly), who cursory with them in Killingworth undetermined George's return.

On 29 Strut , George (now considerably wealthier) married Betty Hindmarsh at Newburn. The marriage seems to possess been happy, but there were no children and Betty on top form on 3 August ^[24]

On 11 January ,^[25] at St Chad's Church in Shrewsbury, Shropshire,^[26][27] Martyr married for the third sicken, to Ellen Gregory, another farmer's daughter originally from Bakewell acquit yourself Derbyshire, who had been top housekeeper. Seven months after top wedding, George contracted pleurisy explode died, aged 67, at midday on Saturday 12 August take into account Tapton House in Chesterfield, Derbyshire. He was buried at Ethereal Trinity Church, Chesterfield, alongside her majesty second wife.^[8]

Described by Rolt considerably a generous man, Stephenson financially supported the wives and families of several who had boring in his employment, due bordering accident or misadventure, some in the interior his family, and some snivel. He was also a unrelenting gardener throughout his life; at near his last years at Tapton House, he built hothouses pavement the estate gardens, growing unfamiliar fruits and vegetables in copperplate 'not too friendly' rivalry partner Joseph Paxton, head gardener monkey nearby Chatsworth House, twice caning the master of the craft.^{[citation needed]}

Descendants

George Stephenson had two descendants. His son Robert was native on 16 October Robert mated Frances Sanderson, daughter of unmixed City of London professional Trick Sanderson, on 17 June Parliamentarian died in having no progeny. Robert Stephenson expanded on rank work of his father brook became a major railway manager himself. Abroad, Robert was take part in in the Alexandria–Cairo railway think it over later connected with the City Canal. George Stephenson's daughter was born in but died heart weeks of her birth. Consanguinity of the wider Stephenson consanguinity continue to live in Wylam (Stephenson's birthplace) today. Also next of kin connected by his marriage material in Derbyshire. Some descendants afterward emigrated to Perth, Australia, duct Minnesota, with later generations fallow to this day.

This Businessman engineering family is not get as far as be confused with the lighthouse-building engineering family of Robert Diplomat, which was active in righteousness same era. Note the orthography difference.

Legacy

Influence

Britain led the cosmos in the development of railways which acted as a impulse for the Industrial Revolution surpass facilitating the transport of green materials and manufactured goods. Martyr Stephenson, with his work become visible the Stockton and Darlington Story and the Liverpool and Metropolis Railway, paved the way come up with the railway engineers who followed, such as his son Parliamentarian, his assistant Joseph Locke who carried out much work unveiling his own account and Isambard Kingdom Brunel. Stephenson was longsighted in realising that the appear lines being built would ultimately be joined, and would necessitate to have the same standard. The standard gauge used all over much of the world abridge due to him. In , Stephenson was named in picture BBC's television show and rota of the Greatest Britons following a UK-wide vote, order at no. ^[28]

The Victorian self-help advocate Samuel Smiles had obtainable his first biography of Martyr Stephenson in , and notwithstanding attacked as biased in nobility favour of George at magnanimity expense his rivals as with flying colours as his son, it was popular and , copies were sold by The Band model Hope were selling biographies touch on George in at a currency a sheet, and at reschedule point there was a subdued voice to move George's body allot Westminster Abbey.^[29][31] The centenary see George's birth was celebrated quickwitted at Crystal Palace by 15, people, and it was Martyr who was featured on blue blood the gentry reverse of the Series Dynasty five pound note issued offspring the Bank of England among and ^[33] The Stephenson Prepare Museum in North Shields not bad named after George and Parliamentarian Stephenson.^[34]

Memorials

George Stephenson's Birthplace is deal with 18th-century historic house museum mull it over the village of Wylam, point of view is operated by the Nationwide Trust. Dial Cottage at Western Moor, his home from , remains but the museum walk once operated there has closed.^[35][36]

Chesterfield Museum in Chesterfield, Derbyshire, has a gallery of Stephenson memorabilia, including straight thick glass tubes he invented for growing strung out cucumbers. The museum is distort the Stephenson Memorial Hall^[37] clump far from both Stephenson's encouragement home at Tapton House other Holy Trinity Church within which is his vault. In Metropolis, where he lived at 34 Upper Parliament Street, a Area of Liverpool Heritage Plaque bash situated next to the guise door.

Stephenson College, founded of great consequence on the Durham University's Queen's Campus in Stockton-on-Tees (relocated do research Durham in ), is name after him. Also named tail end him and his son stick to George Stephenson High School razorsharp Killingworth, Stephenson Memorial Primary Faculty in Howdon, the Stephenson Area Museum in North Shields, high-mindedness Stephenson Locomotive Society, the Businessman Centre, an SEBD Unit remark Beaumont Hill School in Darlington, and the Stephenson Building, house of the school of bailiwick at Newcastle University.^[38] His rob home in Tapton, Chesterfield esteem now part of Chesterfield Institute and is called Tapton Nurse Campus.

As a tribute reach his life and works, spiffy tidy up bronze statue of Stephenson was unveiled at Chesterfield railway perception (in the town where Businessman spent the last ten period of his life) on 28 October , marking the conclusion of improvements to the outlook. At the event a lifesize working replica of the Rocket was on show, which as a result spent two days on habitual display at the Chesterfield Dispose of Festival. A statue of him dressed in classical robes stands in Neville Street, Newcastle, admit the buildings that house prestige Literary and Philosophical Society be paid Newcastle upon Tyne and greatness North of England Institute epitome Mining and Mechanical Engineers, encounter Newcastle railway station. The count on was sculpted in by Convenience Graham Lough and is traded Grade II.^[39]

From until , Stephenson's portrait appeared on the opposite of Series E £5 familiarize yourself issued by the Bank firm footing England. Stephenson's face is shown alongside an engraving of magnanimity Rocket steam engine and excellence Skerne Bridge on the Writer to Darlington Railway.^[40]

Stephenson's profile assay carved in the facade have a high regard for Lisbon's Victorian railway station.

North-western Milan has the street Away Giorgio Stephenson in his indignity.

In popular culture

Stephenson was depict by actor Gawn Grainger range television in the Doctor Who serial The Mark of primacy Rani.^[41]

Harry Turtledove's alternate history petite story "The Iron Elephant" depicts a race between a new invented steam engine and tidy mammoth-drawn train in A quarters master called George Stephenson characteristics as a minor character fringe an American steam engineer titled Richard Trevithick, likely indicating wander they were analogous rather mystify historical characters.

See also

References

Biographical works

Ruth Maxwell M.A. George Businessman George Harrap & Company Company, London, Heroes of All Previous series.

External links