7 2 HER OES OF INVENTION AND DISCO VER Y. 



extra efforts he was making. He married Fanny Henderson 

 when he was twenty-one ; by thrift, sobriety, and industry he 

 was enabled to take up house, although in very humble style, 

 at Willington Ballast Quay. The marriage took place on the 

 28th November, 1802. At his daily work Stephenson con- 

 tinued to study the principles of mechanics, and to master the 

 laws by which his engine worked. His evenings spent at home 

 beside his young wife were always turned to some account. 

 An attempt to discover perpetual motion, although it did not 

 succeed, certainly helped to awake his inventive faculties. 

 Having taking his own clock to pieces and cleaned it, and this 

 becoming known in the neighbourhood, he soon had plenty to 

 do in the same line. 



His only son Robert was born at Willington Quay on the 

 1 6th October, 1803. After working for about three years as a 

 brakesman at Willington, he removed, in 1804, to West Moor 

 Colliery, Killingworth, to a similar situation. Killingworth 

 lies about seven miles north of Newcastle, and it was here that 

 his practical ability as a workman and engineer began to be 

 recognised by his employers. Shortly after his settlement in 

 his new home, to his great sorrow, his wife died. An engage- 

 ment to superintend the working of one of Boulton & Watt's 

 engines at Montrose, in Scotland, took him away from Killing- 

 worth for about a year. On his return he had greatly increased 

 his practical knowledge, and had also saved about ^^28. The 

 journey both going and returning was accomplished on foot. 

 He found his father had met with an accident, and was in great 

 poverty. George Stephenson paid off his debts and made pro- 

 vision for him. His prospects during the years 1807-8 were 

 very discouraging. Great Britain was engaged in a war ; the 

 necessaries of life were heavily taxed ; and finally, he was drawn 



