207,380 profiles ranked

George Stephenson

English civil and mechanical engineer and the "Father of Railways" (1781-1848) · United Kingdom · Scientists · Died at 67

George Stephenson is read about 481 times a day, in 71 languages.

A typical day, 30 days to 15 October 2026

The middle day of the days counted, so one week of news cannot move it. The line under it is the last 390 days, one point a day.

Something wrong?
Compare

He set the width of the world's rails. George Stephenson's 4-foot-8½-inch gauge - chosen in the 1820s for England's first passenger lines - became the global standard, locking in a dimension that shapes infrastructure on six continents.

ScientistsScientistScience19th Century

A life in dates

1848Died12 August 18481844“I got leave to go from Killingworth to lay down a railway at Hetton, and next to Darlington, and after that I went to Liverpool to plan the line to Manchester.”In their wordsspeaking at the opening of the Newcastle & Darlington Railway (1844), quoted in Engines and men- the history of the Associated Society of

1824“The rage for railroads is so great that many will be laid in parts where they will not pay.”In their wordsDecember 1824Letter to Joseph Sandars (December 1824)

1821“I am glad to learn that the Parliament Bill has been passed for the Darlington Railway.”In their words28 April 1821Letter to Edward Pease (1821-04-28)

“To tell you the truth although it would put £500 in my pockets to specify my own patent rails, I cannot do so after the experience I have had.”In their wordsLetter to the directors of the Stockton & Darlington Railway in 1821 after seeing the rails being made by John Birkinshaw.

1781Born9 June 1781

Also in Deutsch

Photos 8

George Stephenson - Project Gutenberg etext 13103George Stephenson - Project Gutenberg etext 13103Alexander Craig (1808-1878) (attributed to) - George Stephenson (1781-1848) - POR 37 - Institution of Mechanical EngineersAlexander Craig (1808-1878) (attributed to) - George Stephenson (1781-1848) - POR 37 - Institution of Mechanical EngineersFerroviaria di Liverpool Manchester - StephensonFerroviaria di Liverpool Manchester - StephensonGeorge Stephenson's House at Alton GrangeGeorge Stephenson's House at Alton GrangeGrandest century in the world's history; containing a full and graphic account of the marvelous achievements of one hundred years, including great battles and conquests; the rise and fall of nations; (14781805305)Grandest century in the world's history; containing a full and graphic account of the marvelous achievements of one hundred years, including great battles and conquests; the rise and fall of nations; (14781805305)HLE 2805 "le Stephenson" - Bruxelles-Midi - 31 juillet 2024HLE 2805 "le Stephenson" - Bruxelles-Midi - 31 juillet 2024PSM V63 D384 George stephenson memorial in rome railway stationPSM V63 D384 George stephenson memorial in rome railway station

In their own words 4

,
George Stephenson
,
4 statements, newest first

  1. I got leave to go from Killingworth to lay down a railway at Hetton, and next to Darlington, and after that I went to Liverpool to plan the line to Manchester.

    1844, speaking at the opening of the Newcastle & Darlington Railway (1844), quoted in Engines and men- the history of the Associated Society of, Own words

  2. The rage for railroads is so great that many will be laid in parts where they will not pay.

    Dec 1824, Letter to Joseph Sandars (December 1824), Own words

  3. I am glad to learn that the Parliament Bill has been passed for the Darlington Railway.

    Apr 28, 1821, Letter to Edward Pease (1821-04-28), Own words

Wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0

Family

George Stephenson

Partners

Is this everyone?

Only relatives with a profile here are drawn, so a family can be larger than this. A line here can also be wrong.

Correct this family

About this person

Born in 1781, Stephenson was an English civil and mechanical engineer who turned steam locomotives from curiosity into the backbone of the Industrial Revolution. In 1825, his company's Locomotion No. 1 hauled the first passengers on a public rail line, the Stockton and Darlington Railway. Five years later he opened the Liverpool and Manchester Railway, the first inter-city line powered by locomotives. After that he became the chief architect of the new transport medium: laying roadbeds, designing bridges, building engines across the Midlands, consulting on projects at home and abroad. The Victorians called him the "Father of Railways" and held him up as proof that diligence and hunger for improvement could remake the world.

Country
United Kingdom
Category
Scientists
Type
Scientist
Status
deceased
Dates
Lived 1781 to 1848 · aged 67

Scientists from the United Kingdom 6

Isambard Kingdom Brunel60.8Andre Geim60.8Demis Hassabis61.1Thomas Newcomen60.7Fred Hoyle61.3Owen Willans Richardson60.3

Fame.am measures public visibility signals. It does not measure human value, talent, morality, or credibility.