The Life of George Stephenson, Railway Engineer

Published in 1857, this first biography of the great railway engineer describes in fascinating detail his life, labours and loves.

Samuel Smiles (Author)

9781108052733, Cambridge University Press

Paperback / softback, published 28 June 2012

570 pages, 1 b/w illus.
21.6 x 14 x 3.2 cm, 0.72 kg

A political and social reformer, Samuel Smiles (1812–1904) was also a noted biographer in the Victorian period, paying particular attention to engineers. His first biography was of George Stephenson (1781–1848), whom he met at the opening of the North Midland Railway in 1840. After Stephenson died, Smiles wrote a memoir of him for Eliza Cook's Journal. With the permission of Stephenson's son, Robert, this evolved into the first full biography of the great engineer, published in 1857 and reissued here in its revised third edition. This detailed and lively account of Stephenson's life, which proved very popular, charts his education and youth, his crucial contribution to the development of Britain's railways, and his relationships with many notables of the Victorian world. It remains of interest to the general reader as well as historians of engineering, transport and business.

Preface
1. Early years
2. Begins a career of labour
3. Engineman at Newburn
4. Brakesman at Black Callerton
5. Marriage, and housekeeping at Willington Quay
6. Brakesman at West Moor, Killingworth
7. Colliery engine-wright at Killingworth
8. The beginnings of railways and locomotives
9. George Stephenson's first locomotives
10. Invents the 'Geordy' safety lamp
11. Controversy as to the invention of the safety lamp
12. Further improvements in the locomotive
13. Education of his son
14. Railway pioneers
15. First survey of the Liverpool and Manchester railway
16. Mr Stephenson appointed engineer of the Stockton and Darlington Railway
17. Completion and opening of the Stockton and Darlington Railway
18. Mr Stephenson appointed to survey a railway from Liverpool to Manchester
19. Mr Stephenson examined before the parliamentary committee on the Liverpool and Manchester bill
20. The Liverpool and Manchester Railway bill carried, and Mr Stephenson appointed engineer
21. A prize offered for the best locomotive engine
22. The building of the 'Rocket'
23. The competition of locomotives at Rainhill
24. The opening of the Liverpool and Manchester Railway
25. Extension of the railway system
26. Advance of public opinion in favour of railways
27. Mr Stephenson engineer of the Manchester and Leeds, and Midland railways
28. Surveys of lines to Scotland and Holyhead
29. Mr Stephenson and the new school of fast engineers
30. Mr Stephenson's partial retirement from the profession
31. The railway mania
32. Mr Stephenson's connection with Mr Hudson
33. Mr Stephenson's connection with foreign railways
34. Residence at Tapton
35. Closing years
36. His character
Résumé of the railway system and its results.

Subject Areas: History of engineering & technology [TBX]