Person    | Male  Born 11/3/1770  Died 15/9/1830

William Huskisson

Huskisson is famous for being the victim of the first fatal railway accident (not quite true), being run over by the train known as Stevenson's Rocket, at the opening ceremony of the Manchester to Liverpool railway. He and some friends had taken a ride in a train, the Northumbrian. At Newton-le-Willow they had descended from that train when the Rocket came into view. Huskisson, weak from a recent operation, could not get out the way and fell in front of the on-coming train, which, like all trains at that time, had no brakes.

He died later that day at Eccles. There were previous fatal accidents on the railways, but Huskisson’s was the first to be widely reported. The Duke of Wellington who was present at the accident and not a friend of Huskisson, described his death as ‘an act of god’. The subsequent enquiry absolved the railways of any responsibility. Shortly after brakes became standard equipment on trains.

Huskisson had previously escaped from another unlikely accident, when a horse fell on him during his honeymoon. Born at Birtsmorton Court in Worcestershire. MP. Buried in Liverpool's St. James's Cemetery.

Peter Duby adds the following: “Member of Parliament (for Morpeth), a president of the Board of Trade and colonial secretary in 1827/28”.

Huskisson railway station, near Liverpool, opened in 1880.

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:
William Huskisson

Commemorated ati

Huskisson statue

Noting the stance and the toga, Osbert Sitwell described this statue as "bore...

Read More

William Huskisson

London County Council William Huskisson, 1770 - 1830, statesman lived here.

Read More

Other Subjects

James George White, Deputy

James George White, Deputy

Commoner on the Bridge House Estates Committee, 1894.

Person, Politics & Administration

1 memorial
William Sidney

William Sidney

Mayor of the Borough of Chelsea in 1906 - 8. Represented Chelsea in the LCC, 1922-34. LondonWiki says: "Following the death of his two elder brothers, the 3rd and 4th Barons De L'Isle and Dudley, h...

Person, Politics & Administration

2 memorials
Henry Fox, Baron Holland

Henry Fox, Baron Holland

First Baron Holland. Held a number of senior posts but never made PM nor gained the earldom that he desired. But he did gain financially from his roles and was not a popular man. Father of Charles ...

Person, Politics & Administration

1 memorial
Basketmakers Company

Basketmakers Company

Established by an Order of the Court at Aldermen on 22 September 1569, a Royal Charter being granted in 1937. Today it supports the trade in this country and helps to foster links with the craft ac...

Group, Craft / Design, Liveries & Guilds, Politics & Administration

0 memorials
Councillor W. H. Bryant

Councillor W. H. Bryant

Member of Housing Committee, Diss Street 1922. Councillor and Vice-Chair of the Bethnal Green Baths Committee in 1926. Councillor and on the Bethnal Green Baths Committee in 1926.

Person, Politics & Administration

2 memorials

Previously viewed

193 Fleet Street - 5 - Michelangelo

193 Fleet Street - 5 - Michelangelo

EC4, Fleet Street, 193

Building erected in 1883 by George Attenborough for his jewellery and pawn-broking business, Attenborough and Sons. Architects: Archer an...

1 subject commemorated
Sir Alfred Gilbert

Sir Alfred Gilbert

Sculptor and goldsmith.  Born 13 Berners Street.  Eloped with his first cousin, Alice, marrying in Paris and then living in Rome.  Returned in 1884 and became successful and famous, attracting many...

Person, Sculpture

7 memorials
Jazzie B - steel statue

Jazzie B - steel statue

N4, Station Place

There are two plaques on the blue bench behind the statues: Plaque 1: The characters for this Portrait Bench chosen by your community ce...

1 subject commemorated, 1 creator
G. Case

G. Case

J. Lyons & Co. Ltd. staff member who died in WW2.

Person, Armed Forces

War dead, WW2
1 memorial
Robin Waterston

Robin Waterston

Pilot. Born Robin McGregor Waterston in Edinburgh. He joined 603 Squadron, Auxiliary Air Force at Turnhouse in 1937, and was called to full-time service on August 24th 1939. Shot down over Woolwich...

Person, Armed Forces, Scotland

1 memorial