John Ellis (1789-1862) of Beaumont Leys in Leicestershire was instrumental in interesting George Stephenson in the proposed Leicester and Swannington Railway. Beaumont Leys is a large suburb of Leicester, England. ... Leicestershire (abbreviated Leics) is a landlocked county in central England. ... George Stephenson George Stephenson (9 June 1781 – 12 August 1848) was an English mechanical engineer who designed a famous and historically important steam-powered locomotive named Rocket and is known as the Father of British Steam Railways. The Victorians considered him a great example of diligent application and thirst for... The Leicester and Swannington Railway (L&S) was one of Englands first railways, being opened in July 1832 to bring coal from pits in west Leicestershire to Leicester. ...

He became director of the Midland Counties Railway and, on its amalgamation into the Midland Railway, became its deputy chairman, and later its second chairman, following the resignation of George Hudson in 1849. The Midland Counties Railway (MCR) was an early railway company in the United Kingdom which existed between 1832 and 1844, connecting Nottingham, Leicester and Derby with Rugby and thence to London. ... The Midland Railway (MR) was a railway company in the United Kingdom, which existed from 1844 to 1922. ... George Hudson (probably March 10, 1800 - December 14, 1871), English railway financier, known as the Railway King, was born in York. ... 1849 was a common year starting on Monday (see link for calendar). ...

In 1845 he eavesdropped on a conversation between two directors of the Birmingham and Gloucester Railway discussing the Great Western Railway's possible acquisition of the line. He took it upon himself to make an offer on behalf of the Midland. The Midland agreed to lease the line (along with the Bristol and Gloucester) and pay off its debts. The Midland thus had control of the lines (though not at that time a through route at Birmingham or Gloucester) from Yorkshire to the South West. 1845 was a common year starting on Wednesday (see link for calendar). ... 5593 Kolhapur climbing Lickey Incline (painting by Terence Cuneo) The Birmingham and Gloucester Railway is a railway route linking Birmingham to Gloucester in England. ... The original Bristol Temple Meads station, first terminus of the GWR, is the building to the left of this picture The Great Western Railway (GWR) was a British railway company, linking South West England, the West Country and South Wales with London. ... The White Yorkshire rose. ...

John Ellis was a Quaker and a noted liberal reformer. He became a Leicester town councillor in 1836 and a Member of Parliament between 1848 and 1852. Leicester city centre, looking towards clock tower Leicester (pronounced ) is the largest city in the English East Midlands. ... Charles Darwin 1836 was a leap year starting on Friday (see link for calendar). ... 1848 is a leap year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ... 1852 was a leap year starting on Thursday (see link for calendar). ...

Reference

Billson, P., (1996) Derby and the Midland Railway, Derby: Breedon Books