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Abstract
In 1853, Robert Stephenson (1803–1859) travelled to North America, principally in connection with the design and construction planning of the Victoria Bridge across the River St. Lawrence at Montreal for which he was the Consulting Engineer. He travelled via New York in both directions, and apparently on his return journey, he took time off to visit the studios of the Meade brothers, Henry and Charles, to have a daguerreotype portrait taken of himself. The image was seemingly privately owned until it was acquired by Bill Becker, proprietor of the American Museum of Photography, in 2017. The author was consulted about the image and confirmed that it was indeed that of Stephenson. The image has now been acquired by Mark Andrews (Member) of Toronto, who has kindly agreed to its publication, for the first time, in the International Journal. To accompany its publication, the background story of the eight weeks Stephenson spent in the United States and Canada has been researched, to set the context for his visit and the photograph.
Acknowledgements
The author is grateful to Bill Becker, the Proprietor of the American Museum of Photography, for consulting him about the newly discovered daguerreotype image of Robert Stephenson. Also to Mark Andrews of Toronto for his permission and enthusiasm for this first publication of the image.
Notes
1 Michael R. Bailey, ed., Robert Stephenson: The Eminent Engineer (Aldershot: Ashgate, 2003), pp. 156–7.
2 Robert F. Legget, Railways of Canada (Newton Abbott: David & Charles, 1973), p. 32.
3 Legget, p. 46.
4 Legget, p. 37.
5 Susanna McLeod, Local History: A Rail Passage into Kingston, on-line essay, retrieved October 2020. Also, Professor William Pole, Chapter VIII, ‘The Great Victoria Bridge …,’ in The Life of Robert Stephenson, FRS, ed. J. C. Jeaffreson, 2 Vols (London: Longman, Green, 1864), Vol II, pp. 190–229.
6 Guelph Advertiser, 9 October 1851.
7 Thomas C. Keefer, Engineer, Report on a Survey for the Railway Bridge over the St. Lawrence at Montreal, Surveyed in 1851-52, by order of the Montreal and Kingston Railway, Hon. John Young, Chairman (Montreal: John Lovell, 1853).
8 Railway Times, XVI, (1853), p. 483.
9 John Millar, William Heap and His Company 1866 (Hoylake: Self-published, 1976), and subsequent editions, including extracts separately published as Thomas Brassey, Railway Builder & Canada Works, Birkenhead (Hoylake: Self-Published, 1993), p. 44.
10 Report dated 6 June 1853. Pole, pp. 201/2.
11 Robert Stephenson, ‘Presidential Address,’ Proceedings of the Institution of Civil Engineers, XV (1855/56), p. 136.
12 Bailey, pp. 158–60.
13 Railway Times, XVI, pp. 496/7.
14 Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser, Tuesday, 19 July 1853, pp. 3/11/15.
15 New York Immigration Authority return of passengers on the P.S. ASIA ; information kindly made available by Bill Becker of the American Photography Museum.
16 Frank Leslie, Historical Register of the United States (New York: Frank Leslie, 1853), p. 6.
17 Julia Elton, ‘Robert Stephenson in Society,’ in Bailey (Ed.), 2003, pp. 220–26.
18 British Colonist and North American Railway Journal, Saturday, 13 August 1853, p. 3.
19 Jeaffreson, Vol II, p. 181.
20 New York Daily Times, Friday, 19 August 1853, p. 3.
21 Jeaffreson, Vol II, p. 181.
22 British Colonist and North American Railway Journal, 8 September 1853, p. 1.
23 Jeaffreson, Vol. II, p. 181.
24 Railway Times, XVI, pp. 1174–5.
25 British Colonist and North American Railway Journal, Tuesday, 6 September 1853, p. 2.
26 Richard White, Gentlemen Engineers: The Working Lives of Frank and Walter Shanly (Buffalo: University of Toronto Press, 1999), p. 89, quoting correspondence from Walter Shanly (1817–1899) to Frank Shanly (1820–1886). The author is grateful to M.M. Chrimes for this reference.
27 Letter Robert Stephenson to John Sanderson, New York, 13 September 1853. Published in The New York Times, 30 March 1862, with covering note from ‘De Lacy,’ writing from New-Rochelle, to whom it had been given by the recipient. Sanderson died shortly after Stephenson’s return to Britain. ‘De Lacy’ is probably Sir George de Lacy Evans, MP (1787–1870) who indicates in his note that he was ‘intimate with the parties named’.
28 Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser, 4 October 1853, p. 11, the issue confirming that Robert Stephenson was among the vessel’s sixty-four passengers.
29 Millar, 1976, including extracts separately self-published (Hoylake, 1993), pp. 44–8.
30 Jeaffreson, pp. 187–9.
31 James Hodges, Construction of the Great Victoria Bridge in Canada (London: 1860).
32 Millar, p. 54.
33 Pole, p. 209.
34 Millar, pp. 50–1.
35 Pole, p. 210.
36 Letter from ‘Veritas,’ The Morning Post, 8 September 1859.
37 Letter dated 22 September 1859 from George Robert Stephenson to the Editor of The Morning Post.
38 Correspondence in The Montreal Gazette, The Hamilton Spectator, and The Toronto Globe (December 1859), passim.
39 Pamphlet by ‘A Montrealer,’ The Canadian Engineer of the Victoria Bridge (Montreal: 1860).
40 Hunter’s Hand Book of the Victoria Bridge (Montreal: Hunter and Pickup, 1860).
41 Pamphlet by ‘A Canadian,’ The Victoria Bridge at Montreal, Canada (London: 1860).
42 Charles Walker, Thomas Brassey Railway Builder (London: Frederick Muller, 1969), pp. 82–96.
43 Mike Chrimes, Ross, ‘Alexander Mackenzie (1805-1862),’ in Biographical Dictionary of Civil Engineers, 2, (1830-1890), ed. by Peter Cross-Rudkin and Mike Chrimes (London: Institution of Civil Engineers, 2008), pp. 673–76.
44 Legget, p. 48.
Additional information
Notes on contributors
Michael R. Bailey
Dr. Michael R. Bailey a Past-President of the Newcomen Society, is the President of the Stephenson Locomotive Society, and the British Overseas Railways Historical Trust. He is the author of several books and papers relating to early railway and locomotive history. He was Editor of the 2003 biographical work: Robert Stephenson: The Eminent Engineer, and was a Member of the Editorial Board of the Biographical Dictionary of Civil Engineers – Volume 2. Dr. Bailey is a museum consultant in Early Railway and Locomotive technology.