
- 280 pages
- English
- ePUB (mobile friendly)
- Available on iOS & Android
About this book
George Hudson was the greatest British railway entrepreneur of the 19th century. In 1848, he controlled over 1, 000 miles of railway and, when it came to railway promotion, it seemed he could do no wrong. However, in early 1849 it came to light that some of his business methods had been less than ethical and he was forced to relinquish the chairmanship of each of his companies. His fall from grace was spectacular and his detractors, of whom there were many, were quick to denounce him as a fraudster, a charlatan and a crook. Even today, when the name George Hudson is mentioned, these same insults are often levelled at him. This new biography takes a fresh look at Hudson's extraordinary life, from his humble beginnings as a farmer's boy, to becoming Lord Mayor of York before catching the railway bug. He was MP for Sunderland between 1845 and 1859. After his fall from grace, Hudson endured a 20-year court battle with the York and North Midland Railway (subsequently the North Eastern Railway) for outstanding debts. Hudson made many mistakes in creating his railway empire, but did he deserve all the vitriol that still accompanies his reputation? In seeking to answer this question, Matthew Wells looks at the evidence, including what was said about Hudson during his lifetime and what Hudson himself had to say about the actions he took.
Frequently asked questions
- Essential is ideal for learners and professionals who enjoy exploring a wide range of subjects. Access the Essential Library with 800,000+ trusted titles and best-sellers across business, personal growth, and the humanities. Includes unlimited reading time and Standard Read Aloud voice.
- Complete: Perfect for advanced learners and researchers needing full, unrestricted access. Unlock 1.4M+ books across hundreds of subjects, including academic and specialized titles. The Complete Plan also includes advanced features like Premium Read Aloud and Research Assistant.
Please note we cannot support devices running on iOS 13 and Android 7 or earlier. Learn more about using the app.
Information
Table of contents
- Cover
- Title Page
- Copyright
- Contents
- Introduction
- Chapter 1 Who was George Hudson?
- Chapter 2 1835 General Election
- Chapter 3 Hudson Catches the Railway Bug
- Chapter 4 Lord Mayor of York
- Chapter 5 Railway Mania
- Chapter 6 Hudson’s Testimonial
- Chapter 7 MP for Sunderland
- Chapter 8 Reaching the Summit
- Chapter 9 The Kingdom Unravels
- Chapter 10 Hudson’s Explanation
- Chapter 11 Hudson’s Last Hurrah
- Chapter 12 James Richardson v Thomas Wodson
- Chapter 13 In Chancery
- Chapter 14 Hudson Goes Missing
- Chapter 15 Exile
- Chapter 16 The King Returns
- Chapter 17 Final Days…
- Chapter 18 What They Said
- Chapter 19 Elizabeth Hudson
- Appendix 1
- Appendix 2
- Appendix 3
- Select Bibliography
- Plates