Inventors - 8 - George Stephenson (1781-1848)

George Stephenson was born on the 12th December 1781, in Newcastle, the famous industrial city, England. His father was a machine-minder in a large coal mine there. The family was so poor that young George had to work as a farmhand for a very small daily wage. Due to poverty he could not go to college.

When he was a boy of 12 he was in charge of a number of heavy and tiring duties at the farm. But he was compelled to work there to earn a little money to cover the daily expenses of the family. Stephenson had a little interest in farming and he always longed to work in a coal mine like his father.

At the age of 14 he got the cherished opportunity to join the staff of the coal mine where his father worked. His job was that of an assistant fireman and he received a wage of six shillings per week.

George worked hard there and in no time he got a promotion as a fireman. At the end of a day’s tiresome work he did not return home immediately to rest. He attended a night school to learn mathematics, reading and writing.

Subsequently George was employed at four or five coal mines in higher positions. His last work place Killingworth coal mine brought him luck and fame.

Once a large steam engine there went out of order. All the veteran engineers there tried their best to set it aright but were unsuccessful. When all gave up, George undertook the job. He dismantled the whole engine, replaced the worn out parts and made some new improvements. The machine began to function even better than before. The owner of the coal mine rewarded George and promoted him to the position of the Chief Engineer.

On a request made by a partner-owner of the mine, George constructed a steam engine to haul boxes of coal on rails. This engine ‘Blucher’ built by him in 1814, could haul eight boxes laden with a total of 40 tons of coal at a speed of 9 mph.

While serving as a chief engineer at the coal mine he was appointed to a new position as a chief railroad engineer. There George not only made a lot of improvements on the railway track but also built a new railway engine which he named ‘The Locomotion.’

In 1829 George introduced his much improved latest engine ‘The Rocket’. In 1830 this engine hauled ten compartments packed with a large number of very important people of the day, including the famous Duke of Wellington. The average speed of the train was 30 mph.

During the 15 years that followed, George constructed several railroads that inter-connected the cities Birmingham, Manchester, Derby, Leeds, Sheffield and Rotherham.

Though a lot of honours, including honorary degrees from renowned British Universities were conferred on him, George Stephenson humbly denied them all and preferred to lead a very simple life.

His achievements brought him a lot of money. He gave away a large portion of it for the welfare of the working class. Though he was deprived of having a good formal education, he sent his son Robert to famous schools and finally to the University of Edinburg. Robert obtained degrees in Chemistry and Physics from the prestigious university.

George Stephenson the great inventor passed away on the 6th August 1848 in his residence at Chesterfield.

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