Person    | Male  Born 25/6/1837  Died 29/12/1905

Charles Tyson Yerkes

Categories: Transport

Countries: USA

First things first - pronounce his name to rhyme to with turkeys. He has a claim to having created London Transport.

Born Philadelphia. The memorial describes him as 'creative' and 'imaginative' but he seems quite an unpleasant businessman - on-line biographies use words such as 'ruthless' and 'disreputable'.

Began his business career in grain brokerage, then moved into banking. The 1871 Great Chicago Fire brought him financial ruin and accusations of embezzlement or larceny, an attempt at bribery and 7 months in prison. But within 10 years he was wealthy again. In 1881 he divorced, married a new wife and moved to Chicago where he gradually bought up most of the transit companies. In 1899 he effectively cashed in his holdings and moved to New York.

1898 he was in London buying up the District Railway and financing its electrification. He formed the Metropolitan District Electric Traction Company and through this he pushed through the acquisition, construction and electrification of many of the tube lines that became those we know and love today, including the Charing Cross Euston & Hampstead Railway company, the Baker Street and Waterloo Railway, and the Brompton and Piccadilly tube. He also acquired the tramway system and electrified it.

Died New York, with his estate greatly reduced by many debts.

Comments are provided by Facebook, please ensure you are signed in here to see them

This section lists the memorials where the subject on this page is commemorated:
Charles Tyson Yerkes

Commemorated ati

Chalk Farm Station

The plaque mentions the Charing Cross, Edgware & Hampstead Railway. We be...

Read More

Charles Yerkes

{On the panel below the portrait:} Northern line founder Charles Tyson Yerkes...

Read More

Other Subjects

The Sailing of the Mayflower

The Sailing of the Mayflower

The ship that carried pilgrims from Britain to the New World. There were 102 passengers on board, who were mainly English, but included some Dutch and a Frenchman. It sailed from Plymouth, England....

Event, Exploring, Transport, USA

4 memorials
Sir Thomas Sopwith

Sir Thomas Sopwith

Aviator and aircraft manufacturer. Designed the Sopwith Camel. Aged 10 accidentally killed his father in a shooting accident. Expert ice skater and a legend in the yachting America's Cup. Born 92 C...

Person, Aviation, Engineering, Sport / Games, Transport

1 memorial
CGL Rail

CGL Rail

The City Greenwich Lewisham Rail Link PLC won the concession for the DLR extension to Lewisham.

Group, Transport

2 memorials
Conservators of the River Thames / Thames Conservancy

Conservators of the River Thames / Thames Conservancy

Came into being as a result of the Thames Conservancy Act,1857. Completed the building of Teddington Lock. Lost some of its responsibilities in 1909 to the Port of London Authority and in 1974 the ...

Group, Engineering, Gardens / Agriculture, Transport

3 memorials
transportation to Australia

transportation to Australia

One of the (many) supposed origins of the word 'pom' for an Englishman, is that convicts were branded with the initials of 'Prisoner of Millbank'.

Event, Law, Transport, Australia

5 memorials

Previously viewed

Horace Montford

Horace Montford

Sculptor, at one time assistant to Matthew Noble.  Born Shrewsbury.  Father to Paul.

Person, Sculpture

1 memorial
Jessica Tandy

Jessica Tandy

Actor. Born Jessie Alice Tandy in Upper Clapton. She appeared in over 100 stage productions and more than 60 roles in film and TV. In 1940, on the break-up of her marriage to actor Jack Hawkins, sh...

Person, Cinema, Theatre, TV & Radio, USA

1 memorial
London Borough of Haringey

London Borough of Haringey

Created in 1965 by the amalgamation of three former boroughs: Hornsey, Wood Green and Tottenham. 2007 - 10, Haringey Council ran its own historic plaques scheme to commemorate notable or famous lo...

Group, Politics & Administration

18 memorials
Sir Hans Sloane

Sir Hans Sloane

Physician, benefactor of the British Museum and an early benefactor to the Chelsea Physic Garden. Responsible for the addition of milk to chocolate to produce a palatable drink. Born Killyleagh, Ir...

Person, Benefactor, Medicine, Museums / Libraries, Race Issues, Science, Ireland

7 memorials
Sir Barnes Wallis

Sir Barnes Wallis

Designer and engineer. Born Barnes Neville Wallis in Ripley, Derbyshire. He was employed by Vickers for most of his working life and designed part of the R100 airship. His most famous achievement w...

Person, Aviation, Engineering

3 memorials