'The Life of George Stephenson', c 1860.
© Science Museum / Science & Society Picture Library
'Life of George Stephenson', one of a series of 'Industrial Biographies' by Samuel Smiles. The book is shown open at a chapter titled 'Success of the Rocket' with an illustration of the locomotive 'Rocket' which was designed by Robert Stephenson (1803- 1859) and his father George Stephenson (1781-1848). In 1813 George Stephenson was commissioned to design his first steam locomotive, 'Blucher', for the Killingworth Colliery in Tyne and Wear. Later, he became the engineer for the Stockton & Darlington Railway (1825), and the Liverpool & Manchester Railway (1829). He advised on the construction of many of the English railways and the Belgian State Railway (1835), hence his nickname 'the father of railways'.