Gurney, Sir Goldsworthy

Gurney, Sir Goldsworthy

▪ British inventor
born Feb. 14, 1793, Treator, Cornwall, Eng.
died Feb. 28, 1875, Reeds, Cornwall

      prolific English inventor who built technically successful steam carriages a half century before the advent of the gasoline-powered automobile.

      Educated for a medical career, Gurney practiced as a surgeon in Wadebridge and London but soon turned his attention to solving practical scientific problems; he invented a steam jet, an oxyhydrogen blowpipe, and a musical instrument consisting of glasses played as a piano.

      Following the sensational success of George Stephenson's Rocket locomotive in 1829, Gurney undertook to build a steam-powered road vehicle. In the carriage that he constructed he drove from London to Bath and returned at a speed of 24 km (15 miles) per hour; so well did it perform that he built several more and opened a passenger service. Powerful opposition to his invention arose at once among the horse-coach interests, and, although Gurney's vehicles were not excessively heavy (1 1/2 to 2 1/2 tons), they were soon taxed out of existence. Gurney was knighted in 1863 as a result of an entirely different technical feat, that of improving the lighting and ventilation of the House of Commons.

* * *


Universalium. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Нужно сделать НИР?

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Goldsworthy Gurney — Sir Goldsworthy Gurney (* 14. Februar 1793 in Treator bei Padstow, Cornwall; † 28. Februar 1875 in Reeds bei Bude, Cornwall) war ein typischer britischer Hobby Wissenschaftler und Erfinder des Viktorianischen Zeitalters. Er betätigte sich als… …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Goldsworthy Gurney — Infobox Person name = Sir Goldsworthy Gurney caption = Goldsworthy Gurney in earlier life. birth date = 14 February 1793 birth place = Treator near Padstow, Cornwall, England death date = 1875 death place = other names = known for = occupation… …   Wikipedia

  • Goldsworthy Gurney — Sir Goldsworthy Gurney Goldsworthy Gurney Naissance 14 février 1793 Treator près de Padstow, Cornouailles, Angleterre, (Angleterre) Nationalité …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Gurney (surname) — The surname Gurney traces its lineage back to the Counts de Gourney, who arrived in Britain with William the Conqueror. Members of the extended Gurney family include:* Alex Gurney (born 1974) American professional auto racing driver and son of… …   Wikipedia

  • Gurney — This name is of Norman locational origin from a place in Sein Maritime called Gournay ( en Brai). The name derives from the Gallo Roman personal Gordinus, plus the local suffix acum meaning a village or settlement. The surname from this source is …   Surnames reference

  • gurney — A stretcher or cot with wheels used to transport patients. [Sir Goldsworthy G., British physician and inventor, 1793–1875] * * * gur·ney gər nē n, pl gurneys a wheeled cot or stretcher * * * gur·ney (gurґne) a wheeled cot used in hospitals …   Medical dictionary

  • Henry Gurney — Infobox President honorific prefix = The Honourable name =Sir Henry Gurney honorific suffix = KCMG order =British High Commissioner in Malaya term start =1 October 1948 term end =6 October 1951 deputy = predecessor =Sir Edward Gent successor… …   Wikipedia

  • automobile — automobilist /aw teuh meuh bee list, moh bi list/, n. /aw teuh meuh beel , aw teuh meuh beel , aw teuh moh beel, beuhl/, n. 1. a passenger vehicle designed for operation on ordinary roads and typically having four wheels and a gasoline or diesel… …   Universalium

  • bus — bus1 /bus/, n., pl. buses, busses, v., bused or bussed, busing or bussing. n. 1. a large motor vehicle, having a long body, equipped with seats or benches for passengers, usually operating as part of a scheduled service; omnibus. 2. a similar… …   Universalium

  • Dampfauto — Fardier von Nicholas Cugnot, 1769 Erster gewerblicher Dampfwagen, die London Steam Carriage von Richard Trevithick, 1797 …   Deutsch Wikipedia

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”