George Stephenson was a British mechanical and civil engineer. Stephenson is credited with pioneering rail transport which is widely regarded as one of the most prominent inventions of the 19th century. Regarded as the Father of Railways, George Stephenson is also credited with developing the standard rail gauge which is used by several railways around the world.
James Dyson is a British industrial designer, inventor, entrepreneur, and landowner. He is credited with founding the popular technology company, Dyson Ltd. He is also credited with inventing the Dual Cyclone bagless vacuum cleaner. Also known for his philanthropic activities, Dyson established the James Dyson Foundation to support engineering education and to inspire young people.
Aviation engineer Frank Whittle entered the Royal Air Force as an apprentice and rose through the ranks to become a pilot. He invented the jet engine, though his idea of a plane that could fly at a phenomenal speed was initially laughed at. He was later knighted for his achievements.
Nineteenth-century polymath Francis Galton revolutionized science with his pathbreaking research on human intelligence and psychometrics. His books dealt with diverse topics such as correlational calculus, fingerprint analysis, and meteorology, and he also explored Africa. He left Cambridge without an honors degree, and yet ended up being knighted for his achievements.
Best remembered as a Nobel laureate who discovered neutron, Sir James Chadwick began his career at Cavendish Laboratory, Cambridge, where he worked with Ernest Rutherford to investigate the nature of atomic nucleus, a work that led to the epoch-making discovery. Credited with writing the final draft of the MAUD Report, he also headed the British team at the Manhattan Project
![William Henry Perkin William Henry Perkin](http://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/thumbs/william-henry-perkin-54423-1.jpg)
William Henry Perkin is best remembered for his chance discovery of the dye mauveine, made of aniline purple. He had apparently discovered the dye while attempting to synthesize quinine. The Royal Medal-winning British chemist also studied salicyl alcohol and flavoring agents and synthesized the first artificial perfume.
Richard Trevithick was a British mining engineer and inventor. A pioneer of rail transport and steam-powered vehicles, Trevithick is credited with developing the first working railway steam locomotive and the first high-pressure steam engine. He was a highly respected figure in the fields of engineering and mining during the peak of his career.
Initially a wig-maker, Richard Arkwright later grew an interest in the spinning mechanism, building the Arkwright’s water frame, which used water power to produce cotton yarn. He soon became a name to reckon with in the textile industry, with many mills to his name. He was knighted for his feats.
Barnes Wallis was an English engineer, inventor, and scientist. He played an important role during the Second World War by inventing the bouncing bomb which was used in Operation Chastise by the Royal Air Force to attack the dams of the Ruhr Valley. Barnes Wallis is also credited with inventing the earthquake bomb and his version of the geodetic airframe.
Frederick Sanger remains one of only two people to have won the Nobel Prize twice in the same category. The British biochemist is remembered for his ground-breaking work on nucleic acids and the insulin molecule. The son of a Quaker medical missionary, Sanger, too, grew up believing in Quakerism.
A pioneer of modern British agriculture, Jethro Tull made many inventions, such as a horse-drawn mechanism for sowing seeds. Though he was trained to be a lawyer, he chose to work on his father’s farm instead. His studies on agriculture were later released as The New Horse Houghing Husbandry.
![Clive Sinclair Clive Sinclair](http://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/thumbs/clive-sinclair-1.jpg)
A consumer electronics pioneer, entrepreneur Clive Sinclair began his business venture selling radio and amplifier kits. He went on to launch the word’s first pocket calculator and later also worked on products such as digital watches and pocket TV. He is a fan of poker and is a Mensa member.
![John Herschel John Herschel](http://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/thumbs/john-herschel-1.jpg)
The son of renowned astronomer William Herschel, John Herschel was educated at Eton and Cambridge and grew up to be a polymath. Apart from contributing to the field of photography, he was known for cataloguing and naming stars and satellites. He briefly also served as the Master of the Royal Mint.
Henry Fox Talbot was an English photography pioneer, inventor, and scientist. He is best remembered for inventing the calotype and salted paper processes that served as predecessors to photographic processes of the 20th century. He is also credited with inventing the photoglyphic engraving process. Henry Fox Talbot also played a major role in the progression of photography as an art.
![Joseph Swan Joseph Swan](http://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/thumbs/joseph-swan-1.jpg)
Joseph Swan was an English chemist, physicist, and inventor known for being an independent early developer of a successful incandescent light bulb. He developed and supplied the first batch of incandescent lights used for illuminating houses and public buildings. He was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society (FRS) in 1894 and knighted by King Edward VII in 1904.
Best remembered for his invention of the Davy lamp, a safety lamp for miners, Humphry Davy initially aspired to be a doctor but later deviated to chemistry. The Copley Medal winner had co-founded the Zoological Society of London. He also excelled in writing poetry and loved fishing.
![John Harington John Harington](http://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/thumbs/john-harington-1.jpg)
Though a witty author, John Harington is better remembered as the inventor of the flush toilet. He was banished from the royal court for the cockiness of his language in his written works. He also earned a knighthood and later came to be known as Queen Elizabeth’s “saucy godson.”
![Hiram Maxim Hiram Maxim](http://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/thumbs/hiram-maxim-1.jpg)
![John Boyd Dunlop John Boyd Dunlop](http://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/thumbs/john-boyd-dunlop-1.jpg)
![Henry Shrapnel Henry Shrapnel](http://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/thumbs/henry-shrapnel-1.jpg)
![Robert Watson-Watt Robert Watson-Watt](http://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/thumbs/robert-watson-watt-1.jpg)
Robert Watson-Watt, often called the father of radar was a British physicist who did pioneering work in radio direction finding (RDF) and radar technology. He developed high-frequency direction finding (huff-duff) as a system for locating lightning. It was later introduced during the Second World War and played an instrumental role in intelligence, mainly in catching enemy radios while they transmitted.
![George Cayley George Cayley](http://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/thumbs/george-cayley-1.jpg)
British engineer and inventor George Cayley was a pioneer of aeronautics and aviation. He designed the world’s first glider that could successfully carry a human being. He was also a prominent Whig and had contributed to the formation of what is now known as the University of Westminster.
![William Armstrong, 1st Baron Armstrong William Armstrong, 1st Baron Armstrong](http://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/thumbs/william-george-armstrong-baron-armstrong-1.jpg)
The founder of the Armstrong Whitworth manufacturing company, William George Armstrong, also known as Baron Armstrong, redefined the design of guns and also invented the high-pressure hydraulic mechanism. Initially a lawyer, he later quit his practice to devote more time to engineering. He was also knighted for his feats.
![Matthew Boulton Matthew Boulton](http://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/thumbs/matthew-boulton-1.jpg)
British manufacturer and engineer Matthew Boulton is best remembered as the financier of Scottish engineer James Watt’s pathbreaking steam engine. His Soho Manufactory initially produced metal parts, and he later stepped into John Roebuck’s shoes to partner with Watt, after Roebuck went bankrupt. He also established the Soho Mint.
![Ian Wilmut Ian Wilmut](http://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/thumbs/ian-wilmut-1.jpg)
British biologist Ian Wilmut revolutionized embryology by leading the team of researchers who successfully created the first cloned mammal, the sheep named Dolly. A leading proponent of cryopreservation, he also implanted the first calf embryo, Frostie, in a surrogate cow. He was later knighted for his achievements.
![Jock Lewes Jock Lewes](http://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/thumbs/jock-lewes-111690-1.jpg)
![Thomas Savery Thomas Savery](http://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/thumbs/thomas-savery.jpg)
![David Brewster David Brewster](http://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/thumbs/david-brewster-1.jpg)
David Brewster was a British scientist, inventor, and author. He conducted many experiments in physical optics, especially concerned with the study of the polarization of light. Fellow scientist William Whewell dubbed him the "father of modern experimental optics." He was also a pioneer in photography and invented an improved stereoscope. He wrote numerous works of popular science as well.
![John Ericsson John Ericsson](http://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/thumbs/john-ericsson-1.jpg)
Swedish-born American naval engineer and inventor John Ericsson is most remembered for designing and building the first armoured turret warship and developing the screw propeller. The warship – USS Monitor – is credited for keeping the Union (North) Navy stay protected during the American Civil War. His other inventions include the torpedo technology and solar machine.
![Jim Marshall Jim Marshall](http://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/thumbs/jim-marshall-1.jpg)
![James Hargreaves James Hargreaves](http://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/thumbs/james-hargreaves.jpg)
![Benjamin Thompson Benjamin Thompson](http://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/thumbs/benjamin-thompson-16819-1.jpg)
![Trevor Baylis Trevor Baylis](http://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/thumbs/trevor-baylis-25829-1.jpg)
![Joseph Whitworth Joseph Whitworth](http://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/thumbs/joseph-whitworth-1.jpg)
Mechanical engineer Joseph Whitworth is best remembered for devising the British Standard Whitworth system for screw threads. He contributed a lot to the development of Owens College, introduced a scholarship, and left most of his fortunes to the people of Manchester. He was also made a baronet of the U.K.
![John Shepherd-Barron John Shepherd-Barron](http://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/thumbs/john-shepherd-barron-1.jpg)
![Charles Algernon Parsons Charles Algernon Parsons](http://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/thumbs/charles-algernon-parsons-17737-1.jpg)
Copley Medal-winning engineer Charles Algernon Parsons revolutionized marine transport with his invention of a multi-stage steam turbine. His other inventions include a mechanical reducing gear. Apart from being named a Fellow of the Royal Society, he was also knighted and awarded an Order of Merit for his contributions.
![Harry Ferguson Harry Ferguson](http://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/thumbs/harry-ferguson-1.jpg)
Known as the Mad Mechanic, Harry Ferguson was the man behind the invention of the modern tractor, popularly known as the Wee Grey Fergie. He was also the first Irish to build and fly his own plane. His legacy lives on in the Massey Ferguson brand of agricultural machinery.
![William Friese-Greene William Friese-Greene](http://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/thumbs/william-friese-greene-1.jpg)
William Friese-Greene was a British photographer and inventor. A pioneer of motion pictures, Friese-Greene is remembered for devising a series of cameras with which he shot moving pictures in London. Despite earning substantial amount of money throughout his career, Friese-Greene died in poverty as he spent his earnings on his inventions. His life inspired a biopic titled The Magic Box.
![Oliver Lodge Oliver Lodge](http://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/thumbs/oliver-lodge-1.jpg)
Best known for developing the radio-wave detector named coherer, Oliver Lodge had also served as the first principal of Birmingham University. He was made a Knights Bachelor and had also been a Royal Institution lecturer. His inventions revolutionized early wireless telegraph technology, though they were replaced by modern instruments later.
![Samuel Crompton Samuel Crompton](http://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/thumbs/samuel-crompton-1.jpg)
![John Ambrose Fleming John Ambrose Fleming](http://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/thumbs/john-ambrose-fleming-1.jpg)
John Ambrose Fleming was an English electrical engineer and physicist. He is known for inventing the first thermionic valve or vacuum tube and designing the radio transmitter with which the first transatlantic radio transmission was made. Along with Douglas Dewar and Bernard Acworth, he helped establish the Evolution Protest Movement. Fleming was also a noted photographer and artist.
![Alexander Parkes Alexander Parkes](http://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/thumbs/alexander-parkes-1.jpg)
![James Starley James Starley](http://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/thumbs/james-starley-1.jpg)
![George Daniels George Daniels](http://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/thumbs/george-daniels.jpg)
![Patrick Ferguson Patrick Ferguson](http://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/thumbs/patrick-ferguson-1.jpg)
![Osborne Reynolds Osborne Reynolds](http://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/thumbs/osborne-reynolds-1.jpg)
Osborne Reynolds is best remembered for revolutionizing the fields of hydraulics and fluid dynamics. Born to a clergy father who was also a mathematician, Reynolds developed an interest in mechanics early in life. Reynolds was the first engineering professor at Owens College, Manchester, and also a Royal Society fellow.