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THOMAS WILLIAM EMBLETON. 
Thomas William Embleton was the son of Thomas Embleton, 
and was born at Newcastle-on-Tyne, October 4th, 1809. He was 
educated at the Witton-le-Wear Grammar School, afterwards entering 
the University of Edinburgh. He served an apprenticeship to his 
uncle, Mr. George Hill, of Kenton, who had an extensive practice 
as Mining Engineer to the Gosforth and other collieries. At the 
early age of twenty-one years, in 1830, he succeeded Mr. Blenkinsop 
in the management of the Brandling Collieries, at Middleton, near 
Leeds, a position which he retained until 1865. Blenkinsop was 
from the North, and earnestly devoted himself to the problem of 
mechanical haulage, in 1811 patenting a locomotive engine with 
two double-acting cylinders and working on a toothed rail. The 
operations of these engines at the Middleton Collieries were for 
many years a source of much interest and wonder to the public, 
as they were the first instances of the regular employment of 
locomotive power for commercial purposes. Mr. Embleton made 
several improvements in the engines, and was the first to turn the 
steam into the funnel, with the result of increased draught and 
greater development of power. 
In 1865, Mr. Embleton's connection with the Middleton 
Collieries ceased, and in the following year he took charge of the 
extensive collieries belonging to Messrs. J. and J. Charles worth, 
retaining this engagement until 1888. During this period he was 
responsible for the sinking of several new shafts to different seams. 
As a Consulting Engineer he acted for the Earl of Mexborough, 
Mr. George Lane Fox, and the Wkarncliffe Silkstone Colliery. 
He was also a partner in the Monkbretton Colliery, and directed 
the sinking of its pits. In difficulties connected with colliery 
management his advice was much sought, and where questions of 
trespass, damage from subsidence, &c, arose, his opinion was always 
received as coming from one who spoke with great experience and 
authority. In the terribly trying times when explosions claimed 
their holocaust of victims, Mr. Embleton's advice was especially 
valued. Thus, after the explosion at the Oaks Colliery, Barnsley, 
