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Index to

A Short History of George Parker Bidder, 1806-1878

Moretonhampstead Local History Society, School House, Moretonhampstead, Devon TQ13 8NX (1995)

This book is available from the Society (see http://www.moretonhampstead.org.uk/)

George Parker Bidder was a mathematics prodigy born in Moretonhampstead. Although he left Devon for an education in Scotland and then settled in the London area, his family retained ties to Moretonhampstead for many years.

Index prepared by Margaret Bailey

Index notes:
1 - Index format: date when available, event(s), page(s)
2 - GPB has been used as an abbreviation for George Parker Bidder.
3 - The pamphlet is not paginated. Page numbers refer to my own numbering, starting with the first page of printing, which includes the imprint and an introduction. Pages 8-9 consist of a family tree starting with William Bidder and Elizabeth Parker, GPB's parents.

Bidder, Ann (1799-1844)
- Daughter of William Bidder and Elizabeth Parker; sister of GPB: 8-9
- 1834, married Jacob Thompson: 8

Bidder, Bartholomew (1809-1850)
- Son of William Bidder Sr. and Elizabeth Parker; brother of GPB: 8-9, 12
- Phenomenal memory for numbers: 12
- Actuary at Royal Exchange Assurance Company: 12
- Married Harriot Noakes: 9

Bidder, Bertha (1846-1937)
- Daughter of GPB and Georgina Harby: 8-9, 14
- Lived at Stoke House until 1937: 14

Bidder, Edwin (1837-1872)
- Son of John Bidder and Ann Soper; nephew of GPB: 8-9, 12
- Civil Engineer: 6-7
- 1872, died in Lahore, India: 7
- Death recorded at St. Andrew's, Moretonhampstead: 12

Bidder, Constance (1852-1922)
- Daughter of GPB and Georgina Harbey/Harby: 9
- Married Barton Travers Wire; they had one son: 9

Bidder, Edyth (1848-1942)
- Daughter of GPB and Georgina Harbey/Harby: 8-9
- Married Edward Owen; they had 5 children: 8-9

Bidder, Elizabeth Mary (1803-1822)
- Daughter of William Bidder and Elizabeth Parker; sister of GPB: 8-9

Bidder, Elizabeth Mary (1819-?)
- Daughter of John Bidder and Ann Soper; niece of GPB: 8-9

Bidder, George (1821-1874)
- Son of John Bidder and Ann Soper; nephew of GPB: 8-9, 12
- Civil engineer: 12
- Death recorded at St. Andrews, Moretonhampstead: 12

Bidder, George Parker (1806-1878)
- 1806, born in Moretonhampstead; son of William Bidder and Elizabeth Parker: 1, 2, 8-9
- c1813, met Jacob Isaac, who tested his reading and math abilities: 2
- c1813-1816, appeared as "the Calculating Prodigy" at Brighton, Cheltenham, Tewkesbury, Dudley, Worcester, Birmingham, Oxford, Cambridge, Norwich, Great Yarmouth, and London: 2-3
- 1816, attended school in Camberwell: 3
- 1816-7, answered questions posed by Queen Anne: 3
- 1819, exhibited in Edinburgh: 3
- 1819, came to the attention of Sir Henry Jardine: 3
- c1819-20, tutored privately: 3
- 1820-1824, attended classes in math and natural philosophy at Edinburgh University: 3
- 1824, left Edinburgh for Cardiff and then for London: 4
- c1824-5, trainee with the Ordnance Survey: 4
- 1825, joined Institution of Civil Engineers, served on council and as VP and President: 10
- c1825-6, assistant to Henry Palmer in Civil Engineering, working on surveys for the London Docks and with railway and canal surveys: 4
- 1827, worked part-time as clerk at Royal Exchange Life Assurance: 4
- late 1820s, assistant engineer with Walker and Burges: 4
- 1834-5, joined Robert Stephenson working for London & Birmingham Railway: 5
- c1834, met Georgina Harbey/Harby in London: 12
- 1834 or 1835, married Georgina Harbey/Harby: 9, 12
- 1840s to 1854, made trips to Norway with Robert Stephenson to construct railway: 6
- before 1846, lived in Walworth [Surrey?]: 12
- 1846, he and Georgina bought Mitcham Hall, Surrey: 12
- 1846, promoted the formation of the Electric Telegraph Company, later helped run it, and worked on development of transatlantic cables: 6, 11
- 1850s, visited Switzerland with Robert Stephenson to plan Swiss Federal railway system: 6
- 1850s, introduced gas lighting to Denmark: 6
- 1853, acquired the yacht Mayfly: 13
- 1854, met King of Norway at opening of the Norwegian railway: 7
- 1856, lectured to Institution of Civil Engineers, in which he explained how he did calculations: 14, 16
- 1860s on, consultant engineer to various Indian railways: 6
- 1860, he and Georgina bought land and house at Paradise Point, Dartmouth, and renamed it Ravensbury: 12
- 1860-1, President of the Institution of Civil Engineers: 10
- 1860, gave Presidential Address to the Institution of Civil Engineers: 7, 16
- 1864, he and Georgina moved family to Ravensbury Park House, which they had built on the Ravensbury estate: 12
- 1868-71, served on Dartmouth Town Council; advised on drainage and water supply plans: 13
- 1869, gave Presidential Address to the Devonshire Association: 7, 10, 16
- 1869, entertained by the Emperor of France while with a delegation from Institution of Civil Engineers: 7
- 1870, chairman of the Danish Gas Company: 6
- 1877, transferred Ravensbury Park House to George Parker Bidder, Jr.; bought Stoke House at Stoke Fleming: 14
- 1878, two days before he died, had a philosophical discussion with chaplain of HMS Britannica: 14
- 1878, died; buried at Stoke Fleming Churchyard; left Stoke House to Georgina and their unmarried daughters: 14
- 1879, obituary memoir published in Min. Proc. ICE, 57: 294-309
- Child mathematical genius: 1,2
- Established the Jardine Bursary, a scholarship at Edinburgh University: 3-4
- Appeared before Parliamentary Committees: 5
- Worked with Robert Stephenson for the London & Blackwall Railway, London-Brighton line, the Bilsworth-Peterborough branch of the London & Birmingham, the Yarmouth & Norwich and Norwich & Brandon lines, the North Staffordshire, and the London, Tilbury and Southend: 5
- Contributed to East Anglian railways and Great Eastern Railway: 5, 7
- Persuaded the London & Blackwall Railway to install the electric telegraph: 5
- Used the electric telegraph on the Yarmouth and Norwich line: 5
- Promoted employment of women as telegraph operators: 6
- Met King Leopold of Belgium while consulting with him on railways: 7
- Met King of Denmark while visiting the Danish railway: 7
- Consulted in plans for main drainage of London: 7
- Worked on plans for London Docks, Victoria Docks, and dock changes in Lowestoft: 7
- Competitor of I. K. Brunel's: 10-11
- Published "Bidder's Tables", a calculating device for working out volume of earth to be moved in a cutting or embankment: 10
- Invested in and was active with the Torbay and Dart Paint Company, Buckland Slate quarry, coal mines, a Welsh slate quarry, and Indian trading ventures: 11
- Invested in land in England and Norway: 11
- Enabled parents to move from Moretonhampstead to Exeter: 12
- He and Georgina had 8 surviving children and 28 grandchildren: 13
- Contributed to a new road and bridge across Warfleet Creek, Dartmouth: 13
- Friend of William Froude's in Dartmouth; loaned him his steam-launch for his experiments in ship design: 13-14
- A founder of the Dart Yacht Club; instrumental in its acquisition of the Royal warrant: 14
- Partnered with Samuel Lake, a Dartmouth trawler owner, in experiments with team in local fishing industry: 14

Bidder, George Parker (Jr.) (1836-1896)
- Eldest son of GPB and Georgina Harbey/Harby: 8-9, 13
- Read mathematics at Cambridge: 13
- Became a QC [Queen's Counsel?], specializing in parliamentary work: 13
- Married Anna McLean; they had 7 children: 8

Bidder, George Parker (3rd)
- Son of George Parker Bidder, Jr.: 13
- President and benefactor, Marine Biological Association: 13
- President, Devonshire Association: 13
- Zoologist: 13

Bidder, Georgina (1850-1922)
- Daughter of GPB and Georgina Harbey/Harby: 9
- Married Septimus Crowe; they had one son: 9

Bidder, Elizabeth Harby (1839-1931)
- Daughter of GPB and Georgina Harbey/Harby: 8-9
- Married John Stanton; they had 13 children: 8

Bidder, Florence (1853-1908)
- Daughter of GPB and Georgina Harbey/Harby: 9
- Married J. S. Excell; they had one son: 9

Bidder, Henry Jardine (1847-1923)
- Son of GPB and Georgina Harbey/Harby: 8-9

Bidder, Henry John (1817-?)
- Son of William Bidder Sr. and Elizabeth Parker; brother of GPB: 2, 8-9
- 1835, married Grace Tozer: 9

Bidder, John (1797-1847)
- Son of William Bidder Sr. and Elizabeth Parker; brother of GPB: 2, 8-9
- Taught GPB to count using face of his watch: 2
- 1819, married Ann Soper: 8
- 1819+, father of Edwin, George, Elizabeth Mary, Sally, William, & John: 6, 8, 12
- Builder in Moretonhampstead: 12
- Stonemason: 2

Bidder, John (1823-?)
- Son of John Bidder and Ann Soper; nephew of GPB: 8-9

Bidder, Sally (1833-?)
- Daughter of John Bidder and Ann Soper; niece of GPB: 8-9, 12

Bidder, Samuel Parker (1811-1871)
- Son of William Bidder Sr. and Elizabeth Parker; brother of GPB: 8-9, 12
- Railway engineer: 12
- General Manager, Grand Trunk Railway, Canada: 12
- Worked on London & Birmingham Railway: 12
- Married Mary Gregg: 9

Bidder, Selina (1804-1869)
- Daughter of William Bidder and Elizabeth Parker; sister of GPB: 8

Bidder, William (1768-1844)
- 1793, married Elizabeth Parker: 2, 8-9
- 1794+, father of GPB, Ann, Elizabeth Mary, Selina, William, Bartholomew,
- Samuel, Henry John, and John: 2, 8-9, 12
- 1816, unenthusiastically accepted invitation for son GPG to attend school at Camberwell: 3
- Stonemason: 2
- Moved with wife from Moretonhampstead to Exeter: 12

Bidder, William Jr. (1794-1861)
- Son of William Bidder Sr. and Elizabeth Parker; eldest brother of GPB: 2, 8-9
- 1813, married Jane Hill: 8
- Non-conformist minister: 2

Bidder, William (1831-?)
- Son of John Bidder and Ann Soper; nephew of GPB: 8-9

Brunel, I. K.
- Competitor of GPB's: 10-11

Clark, E.F.
- Great-great-grandson of GPB: 1
- Held designations of MA, MMIMechE: 1
- 1983, published George Parker Bidder, The Calculating Boy, KSL Publications: 1, 16

Crowe, Septimus
- Married Georgina Bidder; they had one son: 9

Excell, J. S.
- Married Florence Bidder; they had one son: 9

Froude, William
- Friend of GPB's in Dartmouth: 13
- Experimented in ship designs: 13-4

Gregg, Mary
- Married Samuel Parker Bidder: 9

Harbey/Harby, Georgina (1808-1884)
- c1834, met GPB in London: 12
- 1834 or 1835: Married GPB: 9, 12
- She and GPB had 8 surviving children and 28 grandchildren: 13
- Before 1846, she and GPB lived in Walworth [Surrey?]: 12
- 1846, she and GPB bought Mitcham Hall, Surrey: 12
- 1860, she and GPB bought land and house at Paradise Point, Dartmouth, and renamed it Ravensbury: 12
- 1864, she and GPB moved family to Ravensbury Park House, which they had built on the Ravensbury estate (near Mitcham Hall, Surrey): 12
- 1878, widowed; inherited Stoke House with her unmarried daughters: 14

Hill, Jane
- 1813, married William Bidder, Jr.: 8

Isaac, Jacob
- Baptist minister: 2
- c1813, met GPB and examined him for reading and math: 2
- Schoolmaster: 2

Jardine, Sir Henry
- Undertook GPB's education in Edinburgh: 3
- Found GPB a post in the Ordnance Survey : 4
- GPB's friend and mentor until his death in 1851: 3-4
- 1851, died: 4

Lake, Samuel
- Dartmouth trawler owner: 14
- Partnered with GPB in experiments with steam in local fishing industry: 14

Locke, Joseph
- 1859?-1860, President of the Institution of Civil Engineers: 10

McLean, Anna
- Married George Parker Bidder, Jr.; they had 7 children: 8

Noakes, Harriot
- Married Bartholomew Parker: 9

Owen, Edward
- Married Edyth Bidder; they had 5 children: 8-9

Palmer, Henry
- Former pupil of Thomas Telford: 4
- c1825-26, was assisted at Civil Engineering by GPB: 4

Parker, Elizabeth (1769-1844)
- From a family of stonemasons: 2
- 1793, married William Bidder: 2, 8-9
- 1794+, mother of GPB, Ann, Elizabeth Mary, Selina, William, Bartholomew, Samuel, Henry John, and John: 2, 8-9, 12
- 1816, enthusiastic about invitation for son GPB to attend school at Camberwell: 3
- Moved with husband from Moretonhampstead to Exeter: 12

Pengelly, W.
- 1886, published anecdote about Bidder being examined by Jacob Isaac, 16

Solly, Isaac
- Chairman, London Dock Company: 11
- Chairman, London & Birmingham Railway Company: 11
- Director, Royal Exchange Assurance Company: 11

Soper, Ann
- 1819, married John Bidder: 8
- 1819+, mother of Edwin, George, Elizabeth Mary, Sally, William, John: 6, 8, 12

Stanton, John
- Married Elizabeth Harby Bidder; they had 13 children: 8

Stephenson, George
- Father of Robert Stephenson: 3
- Railway engineer: 3

Stephenson, Robert
- Son of George Stephenson: 3
- 1829, designed the Rocket for the London & Manchester Railway: 5
- 1840s to 1854, made trips to Norway with GPB to construct railway: 6
- 1850s, visited Switzerland with GPB to plan Swiss Federal railway system: 6
- 1860, died: 4
- Friend of GPB's: 3
- Hosted GPB on his yacht: 13
- Met King Leopold of Belgium while consulting with him on railways: 7

Telford, Thomas
- Taught Henry Palmer: 4
- 1825, drove steam locomotive for the opening of the Stockton & Darlington Railway: 4-5

Thompson, Jacob
- 1834, married Ann Bidder: 8

Tozer, Grace
- 1835, married Henry John Bidder: 9

Wire, Barton Travers
- Married Constance Bidder; they had one son: 9