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Stephenson (GEORGE an English engineer)

GEORGE, an English engineer; born in Wylam, England, June 9, 1781. At the age of 14 he joined his father in his work as fireman in a colliery. In 1812 he was appointed engineer to the colliery. Soon after this he built his first traveling engine to draw the wagons along the tramway. Improvement followed on improvement in rapid succession, in every department to which steam was applicable. In 1822 he opened the first railway, 8 miles long. The whole system of railway locomotion with all its complications of stations, signals, tenders, and carriages, was completed by STEPHENSON the opening of the Liverpool and Manchester railway in 1830. In 1845 he retired from all railway undertakings, after having been instrumental in estab- GEORGE STEPHENSON lishing all the foreign and home lines.

He died near Chesterfield, England, Aug. 12, 1848.