Articles
Myths have arisen around the founding of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers. Perhaps the most potent is that George Stephenson decided to set up the IMechE after the Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE) rebutted his membership application on the grounds that he was not a real engineer.
On re-cataloguing all the Stephenson archives we have unearthed a letter that puts paid to this myth. Writing on 27 February 1847, Stephenson states that he is to become president to a “highly respectable mechanics institution at Birmingham”. He is of course conveying that he is to be the first president of the IMechE. A Mr Bell had written to ask him what honours he has to his name: Stephenson replies that he has no flourishes but is just plain Geo Stephenson. He says he has been asked to become a fellow of the Royal Society and “also of the Civil engineers Society” (ICE) but that he objected because he felt those accolades would be empty additions to his name.
The popular story, it seems, was started by Stephenson’s early biographer Samuel Smiles. It would appear that it is not true, at least if Stephenson himself is to be believed. Also, ICE has no record of Stephenson ever seeking membership. The second myth relates to the first; that Stephenson founded the IMechE.
The first act of perhaps the true founders was to send out a circular to prospective members. In it the signatories write that the IMechE is to enable “Mechanics and Engineers engaged in different Manufactories, Railways, and other Establishments in the Kingdom, to meet, correspond, and by mutual interchange of ideas… to increase their knowledge and give an impulse to inventions likely to be useful to the world”. The recipients were invited to a meeting on 7 October 1846 in Birmingham. The signatories were Edward Humphreys, Archibald Slate, James McConnell and Charles Beyer.
On 18 November 1846 a meeting of the founders and committee approved the rules and regulations of the institution. The backgrounds of these committee members reflect the disciplines the institution was set up to serve: Richard Peacock, Manchester and Sheffield Railway; James McConnell, Bristol and Birmingham Railway; Archibald Slate, Birmingham Patent Tube Co; Edward Humphreys, J & G Rennie; William Buckle, James Watt & Co; John Edward Clift, Staffordshire and Birmingham Gas Works; and Edward Cowper, Fox and Henderson. Charles Beyer was not named on the committee (although he took an active role). He would go on to co-found Beyer-Peacock.
It was at a general meeting on 27 January 1847 that Stephenson was asked to be president, following a vote. He was at the meeting and gave an address.
In his address Stephenson praises the talent of the assembled engineers and gives a record of his own career and achievements. He states that if they pool this talent then England can compete on the world stage. Otherwise it is not “unlikely that some of the Continental talented men might take part in the business of this Country”; he recalls that he has already seen superior locomotive building on the Continent. Perhaps this gives a clue as to why he thought the institution was needed.
Stephenson is listed as one of the 70 original members. Therefore he was an inaugural member but not, strictly speaking, a founder of the institution.
The formal minutes start at the next meeting on 20 February 1847; these and all those up to 1982 can be viewed online via the virtual archive on the IMechE website.
To discover what archives we have relating to George and Robert Stephenson and their companies, use the reference ‘STE’ on our catalogue: archivecat.imeche.org/calmview/