Made In Manchester: World Firsts??
Manchester Scientists
Greater Manchester is responsible for the invention and production of many of the world??s greatest scientific achievements, from computers to test-tube babies.
Did you know?
In 1751, Francis Egerton made the proposal for the world??s first man-made canal. After approval, the construction of the canal began. It stretched from the coal mines at Worsley to Castlefield, Manchester.
John Dalton is world-renowned for his pioneering work in atomic theory. However, he was, in fact, the world??s first meteorologist and was the first person to identify the phenomenon of colour-blindness.
In 1823, George Stephenson built the world??s first steam-driven locomotive.
In 1824, the world??s first Mac coat was made in Manchester by Charles Macintosh and Thomas Hancock.
In 1878, Manchester-born Reverend George Garret designed and built the world??s first mechanical submarine.
In 1904, the world??s first Rolls-Royce car was built in Hulme by Sir Frederick Henry Royce and Charles Rolls.
1919 proved to be an eventful year for scientific achievement and excellence. Ernest Rutherford successfully spilt the atom at the University of Manchester, and J. W. Alcock and A. W. Brown were the world??s first pilots to fly over the Atlantic Ocean.
In the 1940s and 1950s, Alan Turing and Professor Tom Kilburn CBE designed and built the world??s first computers at the University of Manchester.
In 1978, Doctor Patrick Steptoe succeeded in producing the world??s first ??test-tube?? baby at Oldham Royal Hospital. Louise Brown was born on 25th July 1978.
These are just a few of the ??world??s firsts?? that have been invented, designed and developed in Greater Manchester. With the continuing efforts of Manchester??s scientists and inventors in pursuit for cures and alleviating treatments for diseases such as Leukaemia, cancer and arthritis, present-day scientists are continuing Greater Manchester??s scientific legacy.
Submitted by: Shelley Deasey, 08 September 2004
