George Stephenson (1781-1848), British engineer and pioneer of railway locomotives. Working on steam engines in coal mines from the age of 14, Stephenson taught himself engineering. In 1811 he modified a steam engine which was used for pumping water out of a mine. He built many more mine engines before completing his first steam locomotive ('Blucher') in 1814. In 1825, his 'Locomotion' provided a passenger service from Stockton to Darlington at a speed of 24 kilometres per hour. At left is the locomotive 'Rocket' (1829), built by his son Robert (1803-1859) that famously won the Rainhill Trials (1829) for the Liverpool and Manchester Railway.