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John Blenkinsop

1783-01-01 – 1831-01-22

Portrait of John Blenkinsop
Gravestone detail of John Blenkinsop. The lettering reads "Sacred TO THE MEMORY OF Mr. JOHN BLENKINSOP, Upwards of Twenty three Years Steward to the Middleton Estate, who departed this Life, January 22nd 1831, Aged 47 Years. Sincerely regretted by all who knew him." See 1294547 Probably due to the light when the photograph was taken, the inscription appears to read 1851. The gravestone itself clearly reads 1831.Credit: Mike Kirby

Life & Legacy

John Blenkinsop (1783 – 22 January 1831) was an English mining engineer and an inventor of steam locomotives, who designed the first practical railway locomotive.
He was born in Felling, County Durham, the son of a stonemason and was apprenticed to his cousin, Thomas Barnes, a Northumberland coal viewer. From 1808 he became agent to Charles John Brandling, who owned collieries on his Middleton estate near Leeds and whose family came from Felling.

Occupation & Career

inventor, engineer, railway engineer

Sources & Provenance

  1. Wikidata population candidate Q960738 — wikidata View source

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