Report Of The Evidence Of George Hudson On The Trial Of The Cause Of Richardson Versus Wodson York Summer Assizes 1850

Author : Matthew Wells
Publisher : Pen and Sword Transport
ISBN 13 : 1399057480
Total Pages : 316 pages
Book Rating : 4.3/5 (99 download)

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Download or read book George Hudson: The Railway King written by Matthew Wells and published by Pen and Sword Transport. This book was released on 2024-09-30 with total page 316 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: 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.