George Francis Train
(1829-1904)

Died aged 74

George Francis Train (March 24, 1829 – January 18, 1904) was an American entrepreneur who organized the clipper ship line that sailed around Cape Horn to San Francisco; he also organized the Union Pacific Railroad and the Credit Mobilier in the United States in 1864 to construct the eastern portion of the Transcontinental Railroad, and a horse tramway company in England while there during the American Civil War. In 1870 Train made the first of three widely publicized trips around the globe. He believed that a report of his first journey in a French periodical inspired Jules Verne's novel Around the World in Eighty Days; protagonist Phileas Fogg may have been modeled on him. In 1872, he ran for president of the United States as an independent candidate. That year, he was jailed on obscenity charges while defending suffragist Victoria Woodhull against charges regarding an article her newspaper had published on an alleged adulterous affair. Despite business successes in early life, he was known as an increasingly eccentric figure in American and Australian history.

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Commemorated on 2 plaques

Transport Entrepreneur George Francis Train b. 24th March 1829, Boston d. 17th January 1904, New York. Came to Liverpool in 1859 to work in office of Uncle Enoch Train's White Diamond Line, which had 20 sailing ships on Boston - Liverpool service, merged with Johnson Warren Line and White Star Line. Opened office in 23 Lord Street, 17th Feb. 1860 offered to build first European tramway at no cost to Liverpool Corporation. Offer ignored. Instead built first tramway in Birkenhead. Exported tramway equipment to other countries and led to setting up of Starbuck's Tramcar Factory in Birkenhead. Built Union Pacific Railroad 1862-1869. 1870 went around the world in 80 days and gave Jules Verne inspiration for famous novel. Then went around twice more, even faster.

23 Lord Street, Liverpool 1, Liverpool, United Kingdom where they worked (1860)

Transport Heritage Site 'Red Wheel' #21

Birkenhead Street Tramway The first passenger street tramway in Britain was inaugurated here by George Francis Train on 30th August 1860

22 Argyle Street, Birkenhead, United Kingdom where they inaugurated (1860)