1. Nicholas Wood helped engineer and design many steps forward in both engineering and mining safety, and helped bring about the North of England Institute of Mining and Mechanical Engineers, holding the position of president from its inauguration to his death.
Nicholas Wood was born at Sourmires, in the parish of Ryton, then in County Durham, the son of Nicholas and Ann Wood.
Nicholas Wood eventually became the viewer, or colliery manager, of Killingworth Colliery in 1815.
Nicholas Wood was there a close associate of the colliery enginewright George Stephenson, helping him develop his version of the safety lamp and making considerable technical contributions to the development of his locomotive Blucher.
Nicholas Wood carried out in 1818 a series of experiments on rolling resistance, lubrication and laminated steel springs of locomotives.
Nicholas Wood was invited to give evidence before committees of both houses of parliament on the Liverpool and Manchester Railway Bill and then appointed as one of the three judges, along with John Rastrick and John Kennedy, at the subsequent Rainhill Trials of 1829.
Nicholas Wood republished his book, considerably enlarged by reports and discussion of the trials, as a second edition in 1831.
Nicholas Wood was given an opportunity to display his geological knowledge of Northumberland by giving a paper when the British Association for the Advancement of Science held its annual meeting in Newcastle in 1838.
In 1844, Nicholas Wood became a partner in the Hetton Coal Company that owned Hetton Colliery, and moved to Hetton Hall as colliery manager.
Nicholas Wood was a partner in other local colliery companies - John Bowes and Partners and his own Nicholas Wood and Partners.
Nicholas Wood often gave extensive evidence to government committees, such as the select committees on accidents of 1835 and 1853 and was involved in the discussions leading to the Coal Mines Inspection Act 1850.
Nicholas Wood was one of the group of colliery viewers and others who following the Seaham Colliery explosion in 1852 decided to form a society to consider the prevention of accidents in coal mines.
Nicholas Wood was appointed the first President being re-elected to the position every year until his death.
Nicholas Wood campaigned for a College of Physical Science in Newcastle but without success because of funding difficulties and problems in the planned relationship with Durham University.
Nicholas Wood was a member of the Institution of Civil Engineers and Institution of Mechanical Engineers and became a Fellow of the Geological Society in 1843 and a Fellow of the Royal Society in 1864.
Nicholas Wood was a vice president of the British Association for the Advancement of Science at the time of its meeting in Newcastle in 1863.
Nicholas Wood served as chairman of the employers organisation the Mining Association of Great Britain from its inception in 1854 until his death in 1865.
Nicholas Wood married Maria Lindsay of Alnwick in 1827; they had four sons and three daughters.