George Stephenson
9 June 1781 – 12 August 1848
George Stephenson (1781-1848) was an English civil and mechanical engineer known as the 'Father of Railways'. He built pioneering steam locomotives and engineered the Stockton and Darlington and Liverpool and Manchester railways, establishing the standard rail gauge used across much of the world.
Lived at the same time
Well-documented people whose lives overlapped with George Stephenson.
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- Carl Friedrich Gauss (1777–1855) Overlapped 67 years →
- Caroline Herschel (1750–1848) Overlapped 67 years →
- J. M. W. Turner (1775–1851) Overlapped 67 years →
- José de San Martín (1778–1850) Overlapped 67 years →
- Muhammad Ali Pasha (1769–1849) Overlapped 67 years →
Life events
George Stephenson was born to an illiterate colliery family in Wylam, near Newcastle upon Tyne.
Source: en.wikipedia.orgStephenson married Frances Henderson at Newburn church; their son Robert was born the following year.
Source: en.wikipedia.orgStephenson constructed the Blücher, a flanged-wheel adhesion locomotive for hauling coal wagons.
Source: en.wikipedia.orgStephenson devised the 'Geordie lamp' for use in coal mines, independently of Humphry Davy's contemporaneous design.
Source: en.wikipedia.orgAs chief engineer, Stephenson oversaw the opening of the world's first public railway to use steam locomotives, driving Locomotion No. 1 on the opening day.
Source: en.wikipedia.orgThe Rocket, built by George and his son Robert, won the competition held by the Liverpool and Manchester Railway to choose its motive power.
Source: en.wikipedia.orgStephenson engineered the world's first inter-city railway operated solely by steam locomotives.
Source: en.wikipedia.orgIn his later years Stephenson settled at Tapton House in Derbyshire, pursuing mining ventures and horticulture.
Source: en.wikipedia.orgStephenson died of pleurisy at the age of 67 and was buried at Holy Trinity Church, Chesterfield.
Source: en.wikipedia.org