George Edward Dering
Encyclopedia
George Edward Dering was a British
inventor and eccentric
.
His father was Robert Dering and his mother Leititia was the daughter of Sir George Shee, 1st Baronet (1754-1825). He was educated at Rugby School
. He inherited the manor of Lockleys, Welwyn
, Hertfordshire
from his father in 1859 and an estate in Dunmore, County Galway estate from his uncle Sir George Shee, 2nd Baronet
(1784-1870).
He was interested in a range of scientific and technical subjects, obtaining some twenty patents relating to telegraphy, chemistry, iron- and brick-making. His principal interest was electricity: he had a standing order with booksellers for books on the subject and amassed a huge collection, subsequently bought by Theodore Newton Vail
and presented to Massachusetts Institute of Technology
. He also acquired the Cuthbert aeronautical collection, eventually presented to the Royal Aeronautical Society
. A portion of the Cuthbert aeronautical collection was also acquired by Vail for the Massachusetts Institute of Technology
.
In 1850, he invented the single needle telegraph, in which the needle was suspended like a pendulum from the top rather than rotating on an axis to prevent unnecessary oscillation, with the advantage of reducing the power of the batteries needed. This was used experimentally on some railways, by the Bank of England
and by the ill-fated Electric Telegraph Company of Ireland, which elected him a director.
Another of his interests was tight-rope walking. He was a friend of Charles Blondin
and practised with him over the River Mimram
on his estate.
His personal life and behaviour were eccentric
. He was insistent on peace and quiet and paid for roads to be moved that ran too near his house. Around 1880, he disappeared from Lockleys, returning once a year to oversee the estate and finally returning again permanently in 1907. It transpired that he had been living in Brighton
under another name, and had a family who had no knowledge of his real name and fortune.
He died in 1911 and his estates were inherited by relatives: Lockleys went to his daughter, Mrs. Neall.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
inventor and eccentric
Eccentricity (behavior)
In popular usage, eccentricity refers to unusual or odd behavior on the part of an individual. This behavior would typically be perceived as unusual or unnecessary, without being demonstrably maladaptive...
.
His father was Robert Dering and his mother Leititia was the daughter of Sir George Shee, 1st Baronet (1754-1825). He was educated at Rugby School
Rugby School
Rugby School is a co-educational day and boarding school located in the town of Rugby, Warwickshire, England. It is one of the oldest independent schools in Britain.-History:...
. He inherited the manor of Lockleys, Welwyn
Welwyn
Welwyn is a village and civil parish in Hertfordshire, England. The parish also includes the villages of Digswell and Oaklands. It is sometimes called Old Welwyn to distinguish it from the newer settlement of Welwyn Garden City, about a mile to the south.-History:Situated in the valley of the...
, Hertfordshire
Hertfordshire
Hertfordshire is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan county in the East region of England. The county town is Hertford.The county is one of the Home Counties and lies inland, bordered by Greater London , Buckinghamshire , Bedfordshire , Cambridgeshire and...
from his father in 1859 and an estate in Dunmore, County Galway estate from his uncle Sir George Shee, 2nd Baronet
Sir George Shee, 2nd Baronet
Sir George Shee, 2nd Baronet was an English diplomat.-Life:George Shee was the eldest son of Sir George Shee, 1st Baronet and Elizabeth Maria Crisp. He was educated at Sandy Mount, near Dublin, and St John's College, Cambridge, where he graduated B.A. in 1806 and M.A. in 1811. He was admitted to...
(1784-1870).
He was interested in a range of scientific and technical subjects, obtaining some twenty patents relating to telegraphy, chemistry, iron- and brick-making. His principal interest was electricity: he had a standing order with booksellers for books on the subject and amassed a huge collection, subsequently bought by Theodore Newton Vail
Theodore Newton Vail
Theodore Newton Vail was a U.S. telephone industrialist. His philosophy of using closed systems, centralized power, and as much network control as possible, in order to maintain monopoly power, has been called Vailism...
and presented to Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
The Massachusetts Institute of Technology is a private research university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts. MIT has five schools and one college, containing a total of 32 academic departments, with a strong emphasis on scientific and technological education and research.Founded in 1861 in...
. He also acquired the Cuthbert aeronautical collection, eventually presented to the Royal Aeronautical Society
Royal Aeronautical Society
The Royal Aeronautical Society, also known as the RAeS, is a multidisciplinary professional institution dedicated to the global aerospace community.-Function:...
. A portion of the Cuthbert aeronautical collection was also acquired by Vail for the Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
The Massachusetts Institute of Technology is a private research university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts. MIT has five schools and one college, containing a total of 32 academic departments, with a strong emphasis on scientific and technological education and research.Founded in 1861 in...
.
In 1850, he invented the single needle telegraph, in which the needle was suspended like a pendulum from the top rather than rotating on an axis to prevent unnecessary oscillation, with the advantage of reducing the power of the batteries needed. This was used experimentally on some railways, by the Bank of England
Bank of England
The Bank of England is the central bank of the United Kingdom and the model on which most modern central banks have been based. Established in 1694, it is the second oldest central bank in the world...
and by the ill-fated Electric Telegraph Company of Ireland, which elected him a director.
Another of his interests was tight-rope walking. He was a friend of Charles Blondin
Charles Blondin
Jean François Gravelet-Blondin was a French tightrope walker and acrobat.-Life:Blondin was born on 24 February 1824 at St Omer, Pas-de-Calais, France. His real name was Jean-François Gravelet, and he was known also by the names Charles Blondin or Jean-François Blondin, or more simply "The Great...
and practised with him over the River Mimram
River Mimram
The Mimram Valley is named after the River Mimram, which rises from a spring to the north of Whitwell, in North Hertfordshire, England, and makes its confluence with the River Lea near Horn's Mill in Hertford. At Whitwell there are cress beds which have existed since Roman times and these are fed...
on his estate.
His personal life and behaviour were eccentric
Eccentricity (behavior)
In popular usage, eccentricity refers to unusual or odd behavior on the part of an individual. This behavior would typically be perceived as unusual or unnecessary, without being demonstrably maladaptive...
. He was insistent on peace and quiet and paid for roads to be moved that ran too near his house. Around 1880, he disappeared from Lockleys, returning once a year to oversee the estate and finally returning again permanently in 1907. It transpired that he had been living in Brighton
Brighton
Brighton is the major part of the city of Brighton and Hove in East Sussex, England on the south coast of Great Britain...
under another name, and had a family who had no knowledge of his real name and fortune.
He died in 1911 and his estates were inherited by relatives: Lockleys went to his daughter, Mrs. Neall.
Publications
- Magnetism: A Sketch of the History and Principles of the Science and Its Various Useful Applications, Including Those of the Mariner's Compass and Electric Telegraph : a Lecture Delivered at the Hatfield Mutual Improvement Society, January 31st, 1853, Hatfield Mutual Improvement Society, 1853