Bewicke Blackburn
Bewicke Blackburn (1811–1897), civil engineer, was an ingenious inventor whose designs included the Blackburn steam car, which anticipated the modern automobile. [1]
1811 Born in Bloomsbury
1837 Manager of the knight of Kerry's slate quarries on Valentia Island, co. Kerry, from 1837
Married Isabella Lamb of Ryton Hall, co. Durham
1841 Living in Clapham, London, Peter Blackburn 70, Jane Blackburn 70, Caroline Blackburn 30, Bewicke Blackburn Junr 25, civil engineer, Isabella Blackburn 28, Charles Blackburn 4 Mo[2]
1842 Birth of daughter, Helen Blackburn
1845 Birth of son Alexander Bewicke Blackburn
1859 Moved to London
1861 Living at 29 Hans Place, Chelsea: Bewicke Blackburn (age 49 born Bloomsbury), Mine Owner. With his wife Isabella A. Blackburn (age 47 born Newcastle) and their son Alexander B. Blackburn (age 16 born Ireland).[3]
1867 Patent. 'Bewick Blackburn and Alexander B. Blackburn, London, improvements in lucifer matches tapers, and apparatus for heading and igniting the same'[4]
1871 Lodging at 6 Royal Parade, Lewisham: Bewicke Blackburn (age 59 born Bloomsbury, London), Civil Engineer. With his wife Isabella A. Blackburn (age 57 born Newcastle) and their daughter Helen Blackburn (age 28 born Ireland).[5]
1874 His wife, Isabella, died in Kensington[6]
1877 Introduction of the Blackburn steam car
1879 Built an early car.[7]
c1883 (is this date correct - it seems like they moved to London much earlier?) Moved from the Valencia slate works in Ireland to England.
1891 Living at 12 Calverley Park, Tunbridge Wells: Caroline Perkins (age 80 born Bloomsbury, London), Widow - Living on own means. With her brother Bewicke Blackburn (age 79 born Bloomsbury, London), Civil Engineer - Widower. Also her two nieces Alice F. Leatham (age 23 born Gibralter), living on own means, and Helen Blackburn (age 48 born Valencia, Ireland). Two servants.[8]
1897 January 13th. Died of 12 Calverley Park, Tunbridge Wells. Probate to Helen Blackburn, spinster.
1897. Obituary.[9]
1903 Death of his daughter. Blackburn, Helen (1842–1903), campaigner for women's rights, was born at Knightstown, Valentia Island, co. Kerry, Ireland, on 25 May 1842. She had one brother, and was the only surviving daughter of Bewicke Blackburn