Richard Trevithick

Trevithick, Richard

Trevithick, Richard (1771–1833). Cornish engineer and inventor whose genius did not extend to business. A mine engineer from 1790 before erecting his first engine at Ding Dong (1795), he developed high-pressure, non-condensing engines from 1797 to patent both in 1802. His attainments include demonstrating the first practical steam carriage at Camborne (1801) and locomotive at Penydarran (1804), venting steam by the chimney to improve draught; a hydraulic engine and plunger pump for mines (1798); a steam barge (1805); iron storage tanks and iron ships (1808–9); a near-complete Thames tunnel (1809); a Cornish boiler and engine (1812); a portable agricultural engine (1812); a screw propeller (1815); and a tubular boiler (1816). Bankrupt in 1811, mining ventures led him to South America, 1816–27, at a loss, followed by a final flurry of patents including superheating and the jet propulsion of ships (1831). None made him a living, and he died the employee of a Kentish foundry, two of his sons succeeding where he failed in combining engineering with economy.

J. A. Chartres

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JOHN CANNON. "Trevithick, Richard." The Oxford Companion to British History. 2002. Encyclopedia.com. 27 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

JOHN CANNON. "Trevithick, Richard." The Oxford Companion to British History. 2002. Encyclopedia.com. (May 27, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O110-TrevithickRichard.html

JOHN CANNON. "Trevithick, Richard." The Oxford Companion to British History. 2002. Retrieved May 27, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O110-TrevithickRichard.html

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Trevithick, Richard

Trevithick, Richard (1771–1833). Cornish engineer and inventor. A mine engineer from 1790 before erecting his first engine at Ding Dong (1795), he developed high‐pressure, non‐condensing engines from 1797 to patent both in 1802. His attainments include demonstrating the first practical steam carriage at Camborne (1801) and locomotive at Penydarran (1804); a hydraulic engine and plunger pump for mines (1798); a steam barge (1805); iron storage tanks and iron ships (1808–9); a near‐complete Thames tunnel (1809); a Cornish boiler and engine (1812); a portable agricultural engine (1812); a screw propeller (1815); and a tubular boiler (1816). Bankrupt in 1811, mining ventures led him to South America, 1816–27. He died the employee of a Kentish foundry.

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JOHN CANNON. "Trevithick, Richard." A Dictionary of British History. 2004. Encyclopedia.com. 27 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

JOHN CANNON. "Trevithick, Richard." A Dictionary of British History. 2004. Encyclopedia.com. (May 27, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O43-TrevithickRichard.html

JOHN CANNON. "Trevithick, Richard." A Dictionary of British History. 2004. Retrieved May 27, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O43-TrevithickRichard.html

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Trevithick, Richard

Trevithick, Richard (1771–1833) English engineer. In 1801, he built a steam-powered road vehicle. In 1802, Trevithick patented a high-pressure steam engine, his most important invention. In 1803, he built the first steam railway locomotive. In 1816, he went to Peru to install his steam engines in mines.

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"Trevithick, Richard." World Encyclopedia. 2005. Encyclopedia.com. 27 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

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"Trevithick, Richard." World Encyclopedia. 2005. Retrieved May 27, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O142-TrevithickRichard.html

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Free newspaper and magazine articles

Richard Trevithick: Giant of Steam
Magazine article from: Mechanical Engineering-CIME; 5/1/2003
Who is Richard Trevithick?(News)
Newspaper article from: South Wales Echo (Cardiff, Wales); 7/15/2004
Trevithick's a hit with Mr Pop.(News)
Newspaper article from: Western Mail (Cardiff, Wales); 2/23/2004

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