Can anyone find the name/details of the man killed by Stephenson's ''Rocket'' on its inaugural journey?

Question

September 30th 1830 Liverpool to Manchester Line

Hard Question?

Answer 1

William Huskisson (11 March 1770 – 15 September 1830), was a British statesman, financier, and Member of Parliament for serveral constituencies, including Liverpool. He is best known today, however, as the world's first railway casualty, having been accidentally killed by George Stephenson's locomotive engine Rocket.

Huskisson was the first person in world history to be fatally injured in a railway accident.

While attending the opening of the Liverpool and Manchester Railway, Huskisson rode down the line in the same train as the Duke of Wellington. At Parkside, close to Newton-le-Willows in Lancashire, the train stopped to observe a cavalcade on the adjacent line. Several members of the Duke's party, including Huskisson, stepped onto the trackside to observe more closely. As they were standing outside, the locomotive Rocket approached on the parallel track. Huskisson was unable to get out of the engine's way in time, and his left leg was crushed by it.

After the accident, the wounded Huskisson was taken by a train (driven by George Stephenson himself) to Eccles, where he died a few hours later.

Answer 2

William Huskisson began his career as a political clerk, in which profession, his talent was so manifest that in 1795 he was appointed undersecretary for war. He became was a member of Parliament in 1796 and served as secretary to the Treasury under William Pitt the Younger from 1804 to1805.

Huskisson became president of the Board of Trade in 1823 and attempted to modify the Corn Laws, which were causing acute economic distress among agricultural workers.

From 1827 Huskisson became Secretary for the Colonies and leader of the House of Commons, but he resigned in 1828.

Huskisson was a railway enthusiast; fascinated by the developing British railway system and in 1830 he attended the opening ceremony of the Liverpool and Manchester Railway. The ceremony consisted of a procession of Stephenson’s Rockets each drawing carriages full of dignitaries including the Duke of Wellington. In his excitement, Huskisson strayed on to the railway track and was mowed down by one of Stevenson’s locomotives, thereby not only ruining the dignity of the ceremony, but also making him the first railway fatality in British history.

Answer 3

William Huskisson M.P