29 Facts About Goldsworthy Gurney

Sir Goldsworthy Gurney was a British surgeon, chemist, architect, builder, lecturer and consultant.

Goldsworthy Gurney was a prototypical British gentleman scientist and inventor of the Victorian era.

Goldsworthy Gurney's unusual Christian name was his grandmother's surname but taken from his godmother who was a Maid of Honour to Queen Charlotte.

Goldsworthy Gurney's grandfather married into money, allowing his father, and to an extent himself, to live as gentlemen.

Goldsworthy Gurney practised as a surgeon, but he became interested in chemistry and mechanical science; he was an accomplished pianist, and constructed his own piano, described as a 'large instrument'.

Goldsworthy Gurney moved with his family to London in 1820, apparently discontented with rural life and wishing to seek his fortune.

The family settled at 7 Argyle Street, near Hanover Square, where Goldsworthy Gurney continued his practice as a surgeon.

Goldsworthy Gurney was of a practical bent, and in 1823 was awarded an Isis gold medal of the Royal Society of Arts for devising an oxy-hydrogen blowpipe.

Goldsworthy Gurney's work encompassed the development of the blastpipe, which used steam to increase the flow of air through a steam engine's chimney, so increasing the draw of air over the fire and, in short, much increasing the power-to-weight ratio of the steam engine.

In 1830, Goldsworthy Gurney leased a plot of land overlooking Summerleaze Beach in Bude, from his friend Sir Thomas Acland, and set about the construction of a new house to be built amongst the sand hills.

At The Castle, Goldsworthy Gurney regrouped from his carriage failure, applying his mind to the principle of illumination by the forcing of oxygen into a flame to increase the brilliance of the flame, giving rise to the Bude-Light.

Goldsworthy Gurney applied the principles of the blastpipe or steam jet to the ventilation of mines, as well as to the extinguishing of underground fires.

Goldsworthy Gurney had previously successfully lit parliament and Trafalgar Square.

Goldsworthy Gurney continued to divide his time between London and Cornwall, variously engaged in work with clients; experimenting and innovating in diverse fields such as heating or electrical conduction; and in improving his Hornacott estate.

Goldsworthy Gurney was appointed president of the Launceston Agricultural Society.

In 1863, Goldsworthy Gurney was knighted by Queen Victoria, but later that year suffered a paralytic stroke; he sold Hornacott and retired back to Reeds in Cornwall, where he lived with his devoted Anna Jane, ultimately passing away on 28 February 1875.

Goldsworthy Gurney's vehicles were built at his Regent's Park Manufactory works, and tested around the park's barrack yard, and on frequent excursions to Hampstead, Highgate, Edgware, Barnet and Stanmore, at speeds of up to 20 miles per hour.

Goldsworthy Gurney gave instructions for it not to be used, but it was transferred to the military barracks where it was steamed and a boiler explosion ensued, severely injuring two people.

In 1830 Mr Goldsworthy Gurney entered into contracts with various individuals for the commercial exploitation of his invention, carrying passengers at a lower fare than horse carriages.

Mr Goldsworthy Gurney, having kept open his factory until this point was forced to close it and sell off his materials and tools at a loss.

Mr Goldsworthy Gurney's losses included the costs of keeping his workshop open for six years, loss of contracts, loss of mileage duty on the various routes and the costs of patents.

Goldsworthy Gurney lost the advantage of being the first to develop a working steam carriage, as others used the intervening period to develop their own machines, and lost his advantage over the railways.

Goldsworthy Gurney was especially conspicuous in the Parliamentary investigations regarding steam carriages.

The blowpipe was the underpinning of limelight, and Goldsworthy Gurney was its first exponent.

Goldsworthy Gurney further improved the problematical lighting of theatres which used limelight, with his invention of the Bude-Light.

Goldsworthy Gurney extended his work to lighthouse lamps, innovating in the choice of source, the use of lenses, and the introduction of identifying on-off patterns enabling seafarers to identify which lighthouse it was they saw flashing.

Goldsworthy Gurney worked on many other projects, with interests and patents extending from improved steam engine design, to electric telegraphy and the design of musical instruments.

Goldsworthy Gurney originated the Electric Telegraph, High Speed Locomotion and Flashing Light Signalling.

Goldsworthy Gurney invented the Steam Jet and the Oxy-Hydrogen Blowpipe.