Matthew Baird
Encyclopedia
Matthew Baird was one of the early partners in the Baldwin Locomotive Works
.
Baird was born in Derry
, Ireland
, in 1817. His parents brought him to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
, in 1821.
Baird went to work for the nascent railroad industry in the 1830s. He started with an apprenticeship at the New Castle Manufacturing Company in Delaware
between 1834 and 1836. He then went on to become the superintendent of the Newcastle and Frenchtown Railway (N&F) shops. He left the N&F to become foreman of the Baldwin Locomotive Works
in 1838. In this position, he was co-author on a patent for a spark arrestor in 1842 that has since become known as the "French and Baird stack".
In 1854 Baird invested in a share of the Baldwin Locomotive Works, becoming a partner. At this time, he developed (but did not patent) a new fire arch to improve steam locomotive
combustion. The improved fire arch was subsequently patented by George S. Griggs
on December 15, 1857 . Upon Baldwin's death in 1866, Baird became the sole proprietor of the company, a position he held until he retired in 1873.
The town of Baird, Texas
, is named after Matthew Baird.
Baldwin Locomotive Works
The Baldwin Locomotive Works was an American builder of railroad locomotives. It was located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, originally, and later in nearby Eddystone, Pennsylvania. Although the company was very successful as a producer of steam locomotives, its transition to the production of...
.
Baird was born in Derry
Derry
Derry or Londonderry is the second-biggest city in Northern Ireland and the fourth-biggest city on the island of Ireland. The name Derry is an anglicisation of the Irish name Doire or Doire Cholmcille meaning "oak-wood of Colmcille"...
, Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
, in 1817. His parents brought him to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Philadelphia is the largest city in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the county seat of Philadelphia County, with which it is coterminous. The city is located in the Northeastern United States along the Delaware and Schuylkill rivers. It is the fifth-most-populous city in the United States,...
, in 1821.
Baird went to work for the nascent railroad industry in the 1830s. He started with an apprenticeship at the New Castle Manufacturing Company in Delaware
Delaware
Delaware is a U.S. state located on the Atlantic Coast in the Mid-Atlantic region of the United States. It is bordered to the south and west by Maryland, and to the north by Pennsylvania...
between 1834 and 1836. He then went on to become the superintendent of the Newcastle and Frenchtown Railway (N&F) shops. He left the N&F to become foreman of the Baldwin Locomotive Works
Baldwin Locomotive Works
The Baldwin Locomotive Works was an American builder of railroad locomotives. It was located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, originally, and later in nearby Eddystone, Pennsylvania. Although the company was very successful as a producer of steam locomotives, its transition to the production of...
in 1838. In this position, he was co-author on a patent for a spark arrestor in 1842 that has since become known as the "French and Baird stack".
In 1854 Baird invested in a share of the Baldwin Locomotive Works, becoming a partner. At this time, he developed (but did not patent) a new fire arch to improve steam locomotive
Steam locomotive
A steam locomotive is a railway locomotive that produces its power through a steam engine. These locomotives are fueled by burning some combustible material, usually coal, wood or oil, to produce steam in a boiler, which drives the steam engine...
combustion. The improved fire arch was subsequently patented by George S. Griggs
George S. Griggs
George S. Griggs was a pioneer master mechanic in the earliest days of railroading in the United States.Griggs, like other mechanics of his age, learned the art of machining at Locks and Canals Machine Shop...
on December 15, 1857 . Upon Baldwin's death in 1866, Baird became the sole proprietor of the company, a position he held until he retired in 1873.
The town of Baird, Texas
Baird, Texas
Baird is a city in Callahan County, Texas, United States. The population was 1,623 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Callahan County. The city is named after Matthew Baird, the owner and director of the Texas & Pacific Railway. The railway depot is now the visitor center and a...
, is named after Matthew Baird.