George Edward Dering

George Edward Dering (1831 – 1911) was a British inventor and eccentric.

His father was Robert Dering and his mother Leititia was the daughter of Sir George Shee, 1st Baronet (1754-1825). He was educated at Rugby School. He inherited the manor of Lockleys, Welwyn, Hertfordshire from his father in 1859 and an estate in Dunmore, County Galway estate from his uncle Sir George Shee, 2nd Baronet (1784-1870).

He was interested in a range of scientific and technical subjects, obtaining some twenty patents relating to telegraphy, chemistry, iron- and brick-making. His principal interest was electricity: he had a standing order with booksellers for books on the subject and amassed a huge collection, subsequently bought by Theodore Newton Vail and presented to Massachusetts Institute of Technology. [cite news | title=Vail Electrical Library has grown to be the third largest in the United States |url=http://www-tech.mit.edu/archives/VOL_039/TECH_V039_S0236_P002.pdf |work=The Tech |publisher= |date=3 January 1920 |accessdate=2008-08-25 ] He also acquired the Cuthbert aeronautical collection, eventually presented to the Royal Aeronautical Society.

In 1850, he invented the single needle telegraph, in which the needle was suspended like a pendulum from the top rather than rotating on an axis to prevent unnecessary oscillation, with the advantage of reducing the power of the batteries needed. This was used experimentally on some railways, by the Bank of England and by the ill-fated Electric Telegraph Company of Ireland, which elected him a director. [cite web | url=http://distantwriting.co.uk/ | title=Distant WritingA History of the Telegraph Companies in Britain between 1838 and 1868 | accessdate=2008-08-25]

Another of his interests was tight-rope walking. He was a friend of Charles Blondin and practised with him over the River Mimram on his estate.

His personal life and behaviour were eccentric. He was insistent on peace and quiet and paid for roads to be moved that ran too near his house. Around 1880, he disappeared from Lockleys, returning once a year to oversee the estate and finally returning again permanently in 1907. It transpired that he had been living in Brighton under another name, and had a family who had no knowledge of his real name and fortune.

He died in 1911 and his estates were inherited by relatives: Lockleys went to his daughter, Mrs. Neall. [cite book | url=http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.aspx?compid=43597 | author=William Page | title=A History of the County of Hertford: volume 3 | year=1912 | pages=165-171 | accessdate=2008-08-25]

Publications

* "Magnetism: A Sketch of the History and Principles of the Science and Its Various Useful Applications, Including Those of the Mariner's Compass and Electric Telegraph : a Lecture Delivered at the Hatfield Mutual Improvement Society, January 31st, 1853", Hatfield Mutual Improvement Society, 1853

References

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