The Victorian era of British history was the period of Queen Victoria’s reign from 20 June 1837 until her death, on 22 January 1901. It was a long period of peace, prosperity, refined sensibilities and national self-confidence for Britain.
It was also a period which saw the “Industrial Revolution” as society slowly embraced the concept of machines doing the work of people.
During Victoria’s reign. inventors created items which still endure to this day in one form or another.
The LifeDaily team has selected 20 of the most influential inventions that still impact our lives.
Browse through this list and see if you agree:
- 1838/1839 – Photography – Louis Daguerre (France) and William Henry Fox-Talbot (UK)
- 1839 – The bicycle – Kirkpatrick Macmillan (Scotland)
- 1839 – Steamboats — Isambard Kingdom Brunel (UK)
- 1845 – Rubber tires — Robert Thomson (UK)
- 1845 – Tarmac — John McAdam (Scotland)
- 1846 – Sewing Machine — Elias Howe (US). In 1850 Isaac Singer invented one for home use
- 1849 – Concrete – Monier (France)
- 1852 — Flushing toilet – (UK)
- 1855 – Safety Match – John Lunstrom (Sweden)
- 1863 — The world’s first underground railway (the Tube) is opened in London.
- 1873 – Typewriter – Christopher Sholes (US)
- 1876 – The telephone – Alexander Grahame Bell (Scotland/US)
- 1877 – Gramophone – Thomas Edison (US)
- 1879 – Electric light bulb — Swan and Edison (UK)
- 1885 – First petrol motorcar – Karl Benz (Germany)
- 1888 – Kodak Box Camera – George Eastman (US)
- 1891 – The first hydro-electric power station (US)
- 1894 – Moving pictures (cinematograph) – Lumiere brothers (France)
- 1895 – X-rays — W K Roentgen (Germany)
- 1895 – Radio – Guglielmo Marconi (Italy)
How many of these inventions did you know were produced in Victorian Times?
How many of them do you still use? Which do you think were the most significant?
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