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Robert
Stephenson, called the greatest engineer of the nineteenth
century, was buried beside Thomas Telford in the centre part
of the nave of Westminster Abbey. He was born on 16th October
1803 near Newcastle upon Tyne, the only son of George
Stephenson, railway engineer, and his wife Frances
(Henderson). He studied in Newcastle and Edinburgh and then
became manager of the firm of Robert Stephenson & Co,
founded for him by his father, and later spent some time in
Columbia on mining projects. On 17th June 1829 he married
Frances Sanderson but they had no children. His steam engine
Rocket was entered for the Rainhill Trials in 1829 and won the
prize. He is remembered also for his civil engineering work
especially railway bridges. In 1847 he became Member of
Parliament for Whitby and was later elected a Fellow of the
Royal Society but he declined a knighthood. He died on 12th
October 1859.
Memorial window
A stained glass window was erected near the grave in 1862,
designed by William Wailes (1809-81) but amended by Sir
Gilbert Scott. This was moved in 1934 to the north choir
aisle. The order of the medallions was changed at this time
and plain glass substituted for the original coloured
background. At the top are portrait heads of his father
George, Thomas Telford, John Smeaton, Robert himself, James
Watt and John Rennie. Depictions of Robert’s bridges are shown
together with small medallions of builders through history in
the main lights. Left light from top: Bonha bridge over the
Nile, Tubal Cain, building the Ark, Noah, erection of the
Tabernacle, Hiram, building of Solomon's temple, Bezaleel,
building of the second Temple, Wykeham, and Britannia railway
bridge over the Menai Straits. In the eastern (right hand
light) are shown: Victoria bridge over the St Lawrence river,
Cheops, building of Nineveh, Euclid, treasure cities of Egypt,
Archimedes, building a Roman aqueduct, Michelangelo, the
Colosseum, Sir Christopher Wren, and Newcastle on Tyne bridge.
In 1948 a representation of the Rocket locomotive was added at
the base of the window and the inscription was altered to
include his father’s name.
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