George stephenson Biography

George Stephenson

English mechanical engineer who invented the steam locomotive (Wylam, Northumberland, 1781-Chesterfield, Derbyshire, 1848).The son of a mechanic who operated a steam pump to drain water in a mine (of the Newcomen type), he became familiar with these machines from a very young age.His curiosity led him to study at night school, and while he made a living doing all kinds of trades, he continued to educate himself by helping his son review the lessons.

George Stephenson

Finally established as chief mechanic at the Killingworth mine, from 1813 he became interested in the application of James' steam engine Watt to the hauling of wagons on rails.He created the Blucher locomotive, which he progressively perfected, until in 1821 he convinced the promoters of the Stockton to Darlington railway project to have it drawn by a steam locomotive and not by horses; This is how the first modern railway line emerged, built by Stephenson in 1825.

Success led to a call to build the much longer Liverpool-Manchester line; on that occasion, his Rocket locomotive won a race with other locomotives who aspired to be employed on the line (1829).Stephenson installed a factory in Newcastle from which the eight locomotives that operated on this first regular railway service came out, and was called upon to build or advise on many other railways that were spreading throughout the world.

The locomotive Rocket

With his practical talent for mechanics, George Stephenson solved on the fly the many problems that They were emerging in the layout of new lines, construction of bridges, machines, rails and wagons, in addition to confronting those who distrusted this new means of communication due to its supposed effects on health and the environment.The construction of railway networks gave a definitive boost to the Industrial Revolution by notably increasing the demand for coal, iron and machinery and facilitating the transport of heavy goods and people; The need for heavy investment, on the other hand, preluded the formation of large industrial and financial corporations, a characteristic phenomenon of the Second Industrial Revolution.

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