George Stephenson | |
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 | |
| Born | 9 June 1781 Wylam, Northumberland, England |
| Died | 12 August 1848 (aged 67) Chesterfield, Derbyshire, England |
| Resting place | Holy Trinity Church, Chesterfield |
| Spouse(s) | Frances Henderson (1802–1806) Elizabeth Hindmarsh (1820–1845) Ellen Gregory (1848) |
| Children | Robert Stephenson Frances Stephenson (died in infancy) |
George Stephenson (9 June 1781 – 12 August 1848) was an English civil engineer and mechanical engineer during the Industrial Revolution.[1] Renowned as the "Father of Railways",[2] Stephenson was considered by the Victorians as a great example of diligent application and thirst for improvement. His chosen rail gauge, sometimes called "Stephenson gauge",[i] was the basis for the 4-foot-8+1⁄2-inch (1.435 m) standard gauge used by most of the world's railways.
Pioneered by Stephenson, rail transport was one of the most important technological inventions of the 19th century and a key component of the Industrial Revolution. Built by George and his son Robert's company Robert Stephenson and Company, the Locomotion No. 1 was the first steam locomotive to carry passengers on a public rail line, the Stockton and Darlington Railway in 1825. George also built the first public inter-city railway line in the world to use locomotives, the Liverpool and Manchester Railway, which opened in 1830.
- ^ "George Stephenson | Biography, Locomotives, & Facts | Britannica". 5 June 2023.
- ^ "Plaque unveiled for 'Father of Railways' George Stephenson". BBC. 9 December 2015. Retrieved 2 January 2016.
Engineer and inventor George Stephenson, regarded as the Father of Railways
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