William Wheelwright | |
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| Born | March 18, 1798 |
| Died | September 26, 1873 (aged 75) |
| Education | Andover Academy |
| Occupation | Businessman |
| Known for | Steamboats and trains in Chile Central Argentine Railway in Argentina |
| Spouse | Martha Gerrish |
| Parents |
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William Wheelwright (March 18, 1798 – September 26, 1873) was an Anglo-American businessman who played an essential role in the development of steamboat and train transportation in Chile and other parts of South America. In 1838, with help from the Chilean government, he founded the Pacific Steam Navigation Company which commenced operations on October 15, 1840 and provided commercial sea access to cities such as Valparaíso and El Callao.
Wheelwright also owned the Central Argentine Railway, a company established in 1863 that built and operated railway lines in the east-central region of Argentina.