Birth of George Stephenson
Birth of George Stephenson
Historical biography archive · Updated 2026-11-03
George Stephenson Biography and Timeline
Follow George Stephenson through 15 dated historical records for Great Britain.
George Stephenson, historical timeline
A chronological timeline drawn from matching World History Database records.
15Distinct records
1 of 1Page
1781–1848Years on this page
1781
1814
1st Locomotive
Stephenson designed his first locomotive, a travelling engine designed for hauling coal on the Killingworth wagonway named Blucher after the Prussian general Gebhard Leberecht von Blucher
Industrial Revolution
Stephenson designed his first locomotive, a travelling engine designed for hauling coal on the Killingworth wagonway named Blucher after the Prussian general Gebhard Leberecht von Blucher
1821
Stockton-Darlington Railway
A Parliamentary bill is passed to allow the building of the Stockton and Darlington Railway (S&DR), the 25-mile railway will connect collieries near Bishop Auckland to the River Tees at Stockton, passing through Darlington, Stephenson surveyed the line, assisted by his eighteen-year-old son Robert and construction
1825
Stockton and Darlington Railway
Stephenson's locomotive hauls the opening train on the Stockton and Darlington Railway.
Invention of Train
Builds the 1st public railway to carry steam trains which opens, Stockton-Darlington
Stockton-Darlington Railway
The Stockton and Darlington Railway opens driven by Stephenson, Locomotion hauled an 80-ton load of coal and flour nine miles in two hours, reaching a speed of 24 miles per hour also the first purpose-built passenger car, Experiment, was attached and carried dignitaries on the opening journey, the first time passenger traffic had been run on a steam locomotive railway
1829
Rainhill Trials
Stephenson's Rocket wins the Rainhill Trials near Liverpool.
Invention of Locomotive
Builds the Rocket which defeats is rivals in trials at Rainhill
1830
Liverpool and Manchester Railway
Opens the Liverpool and Manchester Railway with a public procession.
Liverpool Manchester Railway Opens
The first major inter city passenger railway began operating between two important industrial centres. The project established a technique that other researchers could build upon.
Railway Engineering Development
Continues refining locomotive operation and railway practice during the first year of inter-city service.
1833
Invention of Safety Lamp
A House of Commons committee wfinds that Stephenson had equal claim to having invented the safety lamp
1835
Invention of Locomotive
Builds Der Adler which is used by the Germans to pioneer railways in Europe
1848
Death of George Stephenson
Death of George Stephenson
Records, sources and methodology
These dates and descriptions come from the historical_events database. Exact duplicate records have been collapsed. Names are grouped by the country, Name 2 and Name 1 fields; records with missing Name 2 cannot be reliably assigned to an individual biography. Check the underlying sources before formal citation.