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Sir George Cayley, Bart.|The Father of British Aeronautics

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  28 July 2016

J. Laurence Pritchard
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Extract

The True Balance of a man's worth cannot be struck by a knowledge, however full, of only one of his activities.

I do not propose to confine myself to Cayley's aeronautical activities in this paper, for that would be to do much less than justice to a man whose interests, when known and understood, can only add to the stature of a great Yorkshireman and a great Englishman, one, to quote William Cobbett, “of the resident native gentry, attached to the soil, known to every farmer and labourer from their childhood, frequently mixing with them in those pursuits where all artificial distinctions are lost, practising hospitality without ceremony, from habit and not on calculation.”

Sir Walter Raleigh, in his introduction to the History of the War in the Air (1914-1918), referred to Cayley as one who “amused his leisure with science.” Raleigh was not aware and, indeed, very few who know something of Cayley's aeronautical work are aware, of how active was the interest Cayley took in scientific and engineering matters during his long life. I hope in this paper to add something to Cayley's stature, great as it is, in this respect.

Type
Research Article
Information
The Aeronautical Journal , Volume 59 , Issue 530 , February 1955 , pp. 82 - 109
Copyright
Copyright © Royal Aeronautical Society 1955

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References

References

Published writings and speeches by Sir George Cayley.

1.Description of an Engine for Affording Mechanical Power from Air Expanded by Heat. Nicholson's Journal. 1807.Google Scholar
2.On Aerial Navigation. Nicholson's Journal. 1809.Google Scholar
3.Plan for an Improved Theatre. Nicholson's Journal. 1809.Google Scholar
4.Aerial Navigation. Nicholson's Journal. 1810.Google Scholar
5.Observations Respecting the Figure of a Drowned Man found in the Ice of the Pond in Halnaker Park, and Upon the Explanations which have been offered of that Singular Phenomenon. Nicholson's Journal. 1813.Google Scholar
6.On Aerial Navigation. Tilloch's Philosophical Magazine. 1816.Google Scholar
7.Letter on Pauly and Egg's Dolphin Balloon. Tilloch's Philosophical Magazine. 1816.Google Scholar
8.On Aerial Navigation. Tilloch's Philosophical Magazine. 1817.Google Scholar
9.Sir George Cayley's Patent Universal Railway. Mechanics Magazine. 1826.Google Scholar
10.On the Natural Zero, according to the Fahrenheit's Scale. Tilloch's Philosophical Magazine. 1829.Google Scholar
11.Letter Advocating Wooden Tires for Railway Wheels. Mechanics Magazine. 1830.Google Scholar
12.Sir George Cayley's Improvements in Railway Carriages. Mechanics Magazine. 1831.Google Scholar
13.Practical Remarks on Aerial Navigation. Mechanics Magazine. 1837.Google Scholar
14.Speech in a Discussion on Drainage. Minutes of the Proceedings of the Institution of Civil Engineers. 1838.Google Scholar
15.Essay on the Means of Promoting Safety in Railway Carriages. Mechanics Magazine. 1840.Google Scholar
16.The Cause of a truly erect image on the Retina of the Eye Appearing Inverted. Mechanics Magazine. 1840.Google Scholar
17.Essay on the Means of Promoting Safety in Railway Carriages. Mechanics Magazine. 1841.Google Scholar
18.On Wooden Tires for Railway Wheels. Mechanics Magazine. 1841.Google Scholar
19.On the Late Accident on the Paris and Versailles Railway. Mechanics Magazine. 1842.Google Scholar
20.Retrospect of the Progress of Aerial Navigation. Mechanics Magazine. 1843.Google Scholar
21.On the Principles of Aerial Navigation. Mechanics Magazine. 1843.Google Scholar
22.Contribution to the Discussion of Stirling's Paper on the Improved Air Engine. Minutes of the Proceedings of the Institution of Civil Engineers. 1845.Google Scholar
23.Description of an Artificial Hand. Mechanics Magazine. 1845.Google Scholar
24.Sir George Cayley's Railway Train Buffer Carriages. Mechanics Magazine. 1845.Google Scholar
25.Experiments on Shot. Mechanics Magazine. 1846.Google Scholar
26.Railway Buffers. Mechanics Magazine. 1847.Google Scholar
27.Artificial Limbs. Mechanics Magazine. 1849.Google Scholar
28.Aerostation—Mr. Luntley's Pamphlet. Mechanics Magazine. 1851.Google Scholar
29.Sir George Cayley's Governable Parachutes. Mechanics Magazine. 1852.Google Scholar
30.Remarks on the Use of Heated Air as a Motive Power. Minutes of the Proceedings of the Institution of Civil Engineers. 1853.Google Scholar
31.Memoire sur le vol artificiel. Bulletin of the Societe Aerostatique et Meteorologique de France, No.4. 1853.Google Scholar
32.On the Means of Supplying Some of the Uses of a Lost Hand by Mechanical Arrangements. Mechanics Magazine. 1856.Google Scholar
33.The Inundations in France. Preliminary Suggestions Relative to the Late Destructive Floods in France. Mechanics Magazine. 1856.Google Scholar
34.Suggestions for Rebuilding of Covent Garden Theatre. Reprint of Reference No. 3, in Mechanics Magazine. 1856.Google Scholar
(Of the foregoing references Nos. 2 and 4 were reprinted in the Annual Report of the Aeronautical Society for 1876, in the Aeronautical Classics 1910, and in Means' Aeronautical Report for 1895, all slightly abridged. Nos. 6 and 8 were reprinted in the Journa of the Society for February 1925; No. 13 was reprinted in Aeronautic for December 1909 and January 1910; and No. 20 in French in the Bulletin of the Societe Aerostatique et Meteorologique de Franc..for May 1853.)Google Scholar
35. Note–Book of Sir George Cayley.(Edited by J. E. Hodgson.) The Newcomen Society. 1933.Google Scholar
This is the most important of the Cayley Papers. It was partly reprinted in the Journal of the Royal Aeronautical Societ.for June 1933. The Newcomen publication contains an invaluable list of the Mechanical and Technical papers, mostly unpublished holograph manuscripts. Many of these manuscripts are now on permanent loan to the Royal Aeronautical Society, and form the notes made by Cayley for many of his published papers already listed, including his first draft written in 1804 of the first paper on Aerial Navigation.Google Scholar
The list also gives details of over fifty important letters addressed to Cayley on aeronautical matters. Cayley's notes on the hot air engine and many letters from Sir Goldsworthy Gurney and others on the subject and also on his invention of the caterpillar tractor, the tension wheel and many other matters in which Cayley showed his interest.Google Scholar
No full memoir or life of Cayley can be written without reference to this painstaking list of references prepared by J. E. Hodgson.Google Scholar
36.Considerations on the Best Means of Calling Forth the General Strength of the Country for its Present and Permanent Defence. Miles et Baronettus. London 1807.Google Scholar
37.A Letter on the Subject of Parliamentary Reform Addressed to Major Cartwright, by Sir George Cayley, Bart. York 1818.Google Scholar
38.Speech by Sir George Cayley from the York Hustings proposing Mr. Marshall as a Member for the County, June 19 1826, and on the Day of the Election June 27 1826. (MSS.)Google Scholar
39.Pamphlet “ To the Inhabitants of Brompton.” Reprint of a Speech made by Sir George Cayley on the Relationships of Landlords, Farmers and Farm Labourers. Scarborough. December 23 1830.Google Scholar
40.Pamphlet “To the Worthy Burgesses of the Borough of Scarborough” offering himself as a Candidate for Parliament. Scarborough. April 1831.Google Scholar
41.Speech in favour of Sir John Johnstone as Parliamentary Candidate for the County of York. May 6 1831.Google Scholar
42.The Speech of Sir George Cayley, Bart., delivered from the Hustings in Front of the Town Hall, Scarborough, on his nomination to serve in Parliament as one of the Representatives of that Borough, December 12 1832. Scarborough.Google Scholar
43.Poster. Appeal “ To the Worthy and Independent Electors of Scarborough who have given or intend to give me their support.” Scarborough. 1835.Google Scholar
44.Address delivered August 17 1835 on placing the first stone of the Chapel at Snainton. 1835.Google Scholar
45.Essay on the Means of Promoting Safety in Railway Carriages by Sir George Cayley. Reprinted from the Mechanics Magazine.1841.Google Scholar
46.Letter to the Yorkshireman appealing for subscriptions to a Fund to Relieve Distress in the Mining and Manufacturing Districts of Yorkshire. July 1842.Google Scholar
47.Speech on the occasion of a Presentation of a Testimonial to the Rev. J. C. Simpson, Curate of the Parish Church of Brompton. January 1849.Google Scholar
48.Speech in the House of Commons on Presentation to Parliament of a Petition from the Householders and Inhabitants of Scarborough to be allowed to choose their own magistrates and other municipal officers. From The Mirror of Parliament. Undated. References 36-48 are from a bound volume in the Central Library, Scarborough.Google Scholar

General References

49.Files of the Leeds Intelligencer and Leeds Mercury, 1809-1857.Google Scholar
50.Annual Reports of the Yorkshire Philosophical Society. 1821-1858.Google Scholar
51.Annual Reports of the Scarborough Philosophical Society. 1831-1858.Google Scholar
53.Annual Reports of the Aeronautical Society of Great Britain. 1866-1883.Google Scholar
54.Some Notes on Sir George Cayley as a Pioneer of Aeronautics. J. E. Hodgson. A lecture read before the Newcomen Society and reprinted in the Journal of the Royal Aeronautical Society. August 1923.Google Scholar
55. Cayley on Airships. Edited by W. L. Lockwood Marsh. From papers in Tilloch's Philosophical Magazine 1816-17. Journal of the Royal Aeronautical Society. February 1925.Google Scholar
56.Sir George Cayley, the Founder of British Aeronautical Science. J. E. Hodgson. Journal of the Royal Aeronautical Society. May 1936.Google Scholar
57.The Legards of Anlaby and Ganton. Sir J. D. Legard. 1926.Google Scholar
58.The British Association, 1831-1921. O. J. R. Hovvirth. 1922.Google Scholar
59.L'Aeronautique. Bulletin I'Aerotechnique, No. 147. 1935. A propos du Carnet de notes de Sir George Cayley. Pierre Leglise.Google Scholar
60.Memoir of Sir George Cayley. The Mirror. New series. Vol. III. 1843.Google Scholar
61. The Conquest of the Air. A. Berget. London 1909.Google Scholar
62. A History of Aircraft. F. A. Magoun and E. Hodgins. New York, 1931.Google Scholar
63. The Papers of Wilbur and Orville Wright. Edited by Marvin W. McFarland. McGraw–Hill, New York. 1953.Google Scholar
64. Aerodynamics T. von Kármán, New York and Oxford, 1954.Google Scholar