Posted by John Lambert on November 08, 2002 at 17:54:36 from 24.84.34.133 user John.
In Reply to: Dr (Mr) Ransome & Wm Huskisson posted by Peter H on November 08, 2002 at 12:36:30:
This William Huskisson was an exceedingly inept fellow. At Queen
Victoria's coronation, the Abbey was so cold that he wrapped the end of
the ermine robe of a neighbouring peer around his feet. When the time
came for the peer to swear his allegiance to the new Queen, he found he
was unable to move forward...It was certainly in character that poor
Huskisson was the first fatality ever on a railway anywhere in the world
- and on the day that it first opened. At the same coronation, another
peer of the Realm tripped and rolled down the steps leading up to the
Queen's throne. The young Victoria later confided to her diary that she
had a hard time keeping a straight face. Something reminiscent of Mr.
Bean here.