Born 1803.—Died 1859.—George III.—George IV.—William IV.—Victoria.

The son of George Stephenson, the great engineer and mechanic, who was one of the most extraordinary instances on record of the benefits of self-education and “self-help.” He placed the first locomotive engine on the line between Liverpool and Manchester in 1814. Robert Stephenson succeeded his father in all his works, and carried out several gigantic undertakings, especially the tubular bridge over the Menai Straits and the Victoria bridge over the river St. Lawrence in Canada. He was employed in making railways throughout Europe, and in America, Canada, Egypt, and India.