Posted by Robert Hill on November 08, 2002 at 18:38:30 from 195.92.168.171 user eclrh.
In Reply to: Re: Dr (Mr) Ransome & Wm Huskisson posted by John Lambert on November 08, 2002 at 17:54:36:
Huskisson certainly seems to have been highly accident-prone. A recent
item on the radio, quoting a new book (presumably the one mentioned
by Peter), cited several examples. But he must have been, intellectually
if not physically, a lot more ept (before Ed asks, I should explain that
I have just coined that word, a back formation from 'inept') than Mr Bean.
According to Chambers Biographical Dictionary, he held several major
Government jobs at different times, including president of the Board of
Trade, treasurer of the navy, and colonial secretary. Among the things
he is said to have achieved is "relaxation of the navigation laws",
which is perhaps a tenuous step towards relevance to this group.
Anyone know what the navigation laws were or how they were relaxed?
I've previously read accounts of his unfortunate accident at the opening
of what is often called the world's first modern railway, but I'd
forgotten that surgeons were brought to him at the site of the accident.
My recollection was that he had been put on a train - possibly on the very
locomotive that had run him down - and taken to Manchester at top speed.