Abstract
GEORGE STEPHENSON was born June 9, 1781. The importance of this event to us who now inhabit civilised countries is certain; for whatever view we may take as to the inevitability of railways, it is matter of history that for twenty-five years—1815 to 183—after Stephenson had to all intents perfected the system of railway and locomotive, which still holds its own, no other engineer or competent mechanic went even so far as to admit its merit. It is therefore to George Stephenson that we are indebted for our existing railways, for the immense extension of mechanical contrivance which has followed in their train, and for all that these have done for us in the way of improving the circumstances of life.
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REYNOLDS, O. The Stephenson Centenary . Nature 24, 121–123 (1881). https://doi.org/10.1038/024121a0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/024121a0