George Stephenson was born on June 9, 1781, in Wylam, near Newcastle-on-Tyne.

George was fascinated by machines from an early age. In 1802 he became an engineman, and soon after he married Frances Henderson. Together they had one child, Robert, but Frances died of tuberculosis in 1806. Stephenson later married twice more.

Stephenson moved to Killingworth Colliery as an engineman, but his fascination with machines continued, and in his spare time he took apart the colliery engines to discover how they worked. So swiftly did he learn that he was appointed enginewright by the colliery in 1812.

Stephenson developed a new safety lamp that would not explode when used near the highly flammable gasses found in the mines. Stephenson went on to build the world's first public railways: the Stockton and Darlington in 1825 and the Liverpool-Manchester in 1830.

Stephenson was hired by other railways, such as the Bolton & Leigh. But his big triumph came in 1829 when he entered a trial by the Liverpool & Manchester railway directors to determine which locomotive to use for their railway. The winner was Rocket, produced by Stephenson.

Stephenson went from strength to strength. He was chief engineer for the Manchester & Leeds, Birmingham & Derby, Normanton & York and Sheffied & Rotherham railways. He was constantly innovating, constantly improving his engines and the tracks.

George Stephenson died at Tapton House on August 12, 1848.