Collection of letters and accounts relating to Richard Trevithick's patent on a portable high pressure steam engine

(1771-1833), Engineer

Born in 1771 in Cornwall, Richard Trevithick was a practical engineer who developed high pressure steam engines. In 1800 he built the first of the double-acting stationary engine which was the forerunner of the famous ‘Cornish engines’. Between 1801 and 1803 he built three steam-powered road locomotives. In 1803 he built the first practical railway locomotive, a tram engine for Coalbrookdale. After that he constructed the ‘Pen-y-darren’ locomotive for Samuel Homfray, partner in the ‘Pen-y-darren Tramway’ in south Wales. Although this was not a success due to the quality of the track rather than the locomotive, it was a proof of principle. Trevithick built two more railway locomotives: one in Gateshead in 1805, possibly for the Wylam Waggon Way (which was again let down by the poor quality of the rails), and, in 1808, the ‘Catch me who Can’, for an exhibition in London. He is also important for demonstrating that a smooth wheel running on smooth iron rails was capable of hauling considerable loads.

He was involved in the unsuccessful project to drive a tunnel under the Thames from Rotherhithe. In 1816 he left his family and went to South America where he was involved in mining ventures in Peru. These also were ultimately unsuccessful, in part due to the wars of independence, and Trevithick returned, penniless, to England in 1827. Despite the setbacks he experienced, Trevithick’s inventive capacity was undiminished. His last patent was granted in 1832. He went to work for J. Hall in Dartford where he died on 22nd April 1833.

He was married to Jane Harvey (1772 – 1868/9), daughter of another Cornish engineer, John Harvey of Hayle Foundry and had six children, Francis and Frederick Henry, who both became engineers, and Richard, John, Ann and Elizabeth.

Andrew Vivian (1759-1842) was a Cornish mechanical engineer, inventor, and mine captain of the famous Dolcoath Mine in Cornwall. Andrew Vivian was born in 1759 at Vellansaundry as the second son of John Vivian and his wife Anne. His younger brother was Henry Vivian. Andrew was the cousin of engineer Richard Trevithick (1771 - 1833), the inventor of high pressure steam engines.

In 1790 Andrew Vivian was in business of supplying candles, leather and other mining requirements. In 1795 he became the manager of Stray Park Mine near Camborne. He persuaded the shareholders of Dolcoath Mine to re-open the mine in 1798 with Richard Trevithick. In 1801 Richard Trevithick completed his first full-sized road locomotive in Camborne, demonstrating it to the public on Christmas Eve with Vivian at the controls. In March 1802 Vivian financed the production of the first steam carriage and was granted a joint patent for high pressure engines for stationary and locomotive use in partnership with his cousin Richard Trevithick. A second locomotive was tried in Camborne and at the beginning of 1803 in London. In May 1805 Vivian sold his patent. He retired in 1806 from Dolcoath Mine and by 1811 he was the manager of Wheal Abraham mine.

Vivian had at least two sons, who died in 1805 and 1809. Andrew Vivian died in 1842.

Samuel Homfray was an iron master involved in both the Penydarren and Tredegar Ironworks, in what, at the time, was the Welsh county of Monmouthshire. He was born on 16th February 1762 and was the youngest son of Francis Homfray, who manged the iron mill and forge of Anthony Beacon at Cyfarthfa. Samuel was involved in the management of this site but was described as having a dynamic and sometimes dangerous energy.

Following a disagreement with Beacon over expenditure Francis Homfray would give up the lease to the Cyfathfa site and would encourage Samuel, and one of this elder brothers Jeremiah, to lease land at Penydarren to build an ironworks. This would be later expanded when another of his brothers, Thomas, joined the partnership. In 1784 Richard Forman would also become involved after investing £10,000 and would be followed by other members of the same family. In 1786 Samuel would build Penydarren House, it is believed using money own from Richard Crawshay. During construction Roman bricks were discovered along with a tessellated pavement, which were the first indications that the site had been a Roman Fort. Despite the expansion that had occurred, the site of the ironworks was not without its issues as it was down stream from Dowlais works, owned by the Guest family, and this would often cause the river, that was relied on for water, to either dry up or become clogged with waste. Also, the site had very coal available on it which led to Homfray having to buy it from his competitors.

During his time at Penydarren Samuel would also be involved in a number of other activities, including being a promoter of the Glamorgan Canal and working with Richard Crawshaw to improve Henry Cort’s method of producing wrought iron.

In 1789 Jeremiah would move to Ebbw Vale to establish an ironworks there. Although he was still nominally involved in the Penydarren site most of the operations fell to Samuel. Following a disagreement with his brother in 1796, he would end up in sole control of the site and this would allow him to pursue his own interest in steam power. His first move would be to install a Boulton and Watt engine and this was followed by the beginning of production of boiler plate and other components. This work would put him in contact with Richard Trevithick sometime during May 1803. Soon after this he would purchase half of the patent that Trevithick, along with Andrew Vivan, had taken out on a portable hight pressure steam engine. As part of this he would travel around the country promoting high pressure engines in order to make the new technology more widely known. He would also encourage Trevithick’s work and it was from Homfray’s ironworks that the word’s first steam locomotive would run on 21st February 1804, winning Homfray 500 guineas, before it was reengineered to drive a hammer in one of the workshops. As part of this he also prevented efforts by Boulton and Watt to declare the engine unsafe.

In 1793 Homfray would marry Mary Jane Morgan, daughter of Sir Charles Gould Morgan who would lease him land at Bedwellte Common. On this land he would set up the Tredegar Ironworks. Not only was the site not down stream from other works, it also had a plentiful supply of coal. In 1813 Samuel Homfray would leave the Penydarren Ironworks, selling both it and Penydarren house to William Forman and William Thompson in order to focus his efforts on the Tredegar Ironworks. By 1823 this site had five furnaces and was producing 16,000 tons of iron per year.

Homfray would become the high sheriff of Monmouthshire and them MP for Stafford, from 1818 to 1820. He is described as making no impact on Parliament during his time chose not to stand again in the 1820 election. Despite this he is believed to be the Mr H referred to by William Wilberforce as ‘immediately recognising me, and with stentorian voice left me no peace ‘til his whole tale was told… inventor of tram roads, founder of all great iron works in Monmouthshire etc’.

Samuel Homfray died on 20th May 1822. His sons, Watkin and Samuel, would continue to run the Tredegar Ironworks and the family would remain involved in the site until 1868.

Robert Bill was a mechanical engineer and inventor. Born in Staffordshire to William and Mary Bill, it was initially intended for him to join the army. As a result, he did not attend university but rather left education after finish at school. Despite this he did not embark upon a military career but rather was able to use his family’s money to focus on literary pursuits and various experiments.

As part of his experimentation Bill would develop a method of circulating warm air around his house and would also install iron cylinders that were able to heat his hothouse and grapery. In addition to this he would also write a 1795 booklet on the dangers of paper currency that also mentioned a method of preserving water in iron tanks. Although he would not work on this idea further it would be utilised by the Royal Navy aboard their ships.

Later in his life Robert Bill moved to London and became involved in a company providing both gas street and house lighting. In his position he was able to use his knowledge to assist in the planning, installation and regulation of gas equipment. Despite this success he would leave the company due to a disagreement with the proprietors. Following this he would be involved in a number of different ventures including buying Andrew Vivian’s share in an 1802 patent Vivian and Richard Trevithick had taken out. In this he is often described as a nominee of Samuel Homfray, who at the time owned half the patent, and it is believed that Bill’s purchase gave Homfray a controlling interest in the patent. He would also be involved in promoting Edward Massey’s log for ships, publishing a pamphlet in 1806 that contained testimonies from various individuals who had used it. In 1811 he would patent a machine for washing cloths and in 1813 he would present a steam cooker for trails by the Royal Navy.

In the later stages of his life Bill would be involved in two naval projects. The first of these was a method he developed for producing ships masts from iron which, although would prove not to be strong enough, he believe only failed due to his instructions not followed properly. The final project that he would work on was to develop a method of hardening various types of wood that would not usually be used in ship construction. Although this was making a great deal of progress, with a vessel being authorised that made use of the process, he would not live to see it come to fruition, as he would die on 23rd September 1827.

Haynes and Douglas was a firm of cotton merchants based in Tottenham Court Road.

Blagrave and Walter was a firm of solicitors based in Symonds Inn.