Richard Trevithick

Richard Trevithick was an inventive genius who received scant recognition during his lifetime. In 1833 he died penniless and destitute at Dartford in Kent. He would have received a pauper's funeral had it not been for a few well-wishers.

Though he possessed a natural ability for inventiveness, he was not one of the 'fashionable' circle of engineers. These included the likes of James Watt, Mathew Boulton, George Stevenson and Thomas Newcomen. However, his contribution to the advancement of high pressure steam technology cannot be underestimated.

Feats of Strength

He showed little interest in academia and was more inclined to sport as a young man. At six feet 2 inches tall, he was just as well known for his wrestling prowess and feats of strength. One such feat involved throwing sledgehammers over the roof of his Engine House!

Such `dreamers` were ridiculed for their fanciful notions, but it was their determination and abilities that changed the world.

A Working Model

Whilst working with his father in the Cornish mines he showed an early aptitude for engineering. A new steam engine for extracting ore and refuse from mines was developed by him. He had the idea of producing a steam locomotive, and by 1796 had built a miniature that worked. By 1801 he had built a full scale model.

It was at this time that James Watt had discounted the idea of high pressure steam locomotives. He stated that such machines were prone to explosions. Trevithick was convinced that Watt and Mathew Boulton had tried to manipulate Parliament into banning such experiments. Whether they were genuinely concerned about the concept or were motivated by envy is a matter of conjecture.

A Visit to Madeley

In the latter part of the 18th century Richard Trevithick visited the parish of Madeley. He called on the Darbys at their Coalbrookdale works. In 1803 he produced a steam locomotive there. Though designed to run on rails, it was used to pump out mines on the Glebe land within the parish.

The World's First

Having found various backers, Trevithick carried on with his experiments. In 1804 he built and ran the worlds first passenger carrying steam locomotive. It travelled at a speed of 5 miles an hour through the Welsh countryside, for a distance of nine miles.

His steam locomotive worked, but the three journeys it made broke the cast iron rails. It happened again in London with another of his engines. It was capable of reaching speeds of 12 mile per hour.

Tunneling under the Thames

Richard Trevithick was way ahead of his time. It was unfortunate that technology allied to his experiments did not keep pace with him.

Tunneling under the Thames was one of his ideas. He also wanted to construct a cast iron tower 1,000 feet tall. Visitors would be taken to the top via an air-powered lift.

Disillusioned, he left for South America to work as an engineer in silver mines.

It was in Columbia that a fellow Englishman gave the penniless Trevithick his fare back home to Britain.

Denied a Pension

In 1828 George Stevenson petitioned Parliament on Trevithick's behalf. He argued that Trevithick's early experiments were vital to the development of steam locomotion. Despite his intervention, Parliament refused to allow Trevithick a pension.

Richard Trevithick was one of Britain's greatest inventors. He received so little reward or recognition for his contributions to the advancement of mankind.