Friday 15th November 1839

Steam-powered vehicle pioneer William Murdoch (85) died at Sycamore Hill near Soho, England. Murdoch was the inventor of the oscillating cylinder steam engine and he also made innovations to the steam engine, including the sun and planet gear and D slide valve. He invented the steam gun and the pneumatic tube message system, and worked on one of the first British paddle steamers to cross the English Channel. In 1784 Murdoch built a prototype steam locomotive.