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List of inventions in the Victorian Era

One of the reasons why the Victorian era which lasted from 1837 to 1901 is so well known and remembered is for the inventions which took place during this period. Things which we use in our daily lives are a product of the Victorian inventions. This article will try to answer the question What the Victorians did for us?.

Invention of telephone changed the world forever
Invention of telephone changed the world forever

The year 1838 was the year when the first photographs were taken by Louis Daguerre in France and William Henry Fox-Talbot in Britain.

Closely followed by that was the invention of the Penny Black stamp with Queen Victoria’s face on it against a black background in the year 1840. This was the first and the most adhesive stamp to be used.

The period of the 1840s till the early 1850s was characterised by the growing popularity for railways. It was during Queen Victoria’s reign that steam railways commenced. Railways were considered to be a cheaper mode of transport as compared to canal boats and horse drawn carriages consequently leading in the construction of almost 13000 kms of railway lines by various private companies all over Britain. A further development was the invention of the first electric train by a person of German origin in the year 1879.

Inventions In The Victorian Era
Several inventions in the Victorian Era

The Electric telegraph which was developed by William Cooke and Charles Wheatstone was also one of the major inventions which took place during the Victorian era.

The telephone, invented by Alexander Graham Bell in 1876, is an invention which finds an important place in our daily lives even today.

The Electric bulb which was invented in the year 1879 by Thomas Edison soon started replacing the traditional dim yellow gas light, oil lamps, and candlelight.

As a matter of fact, even cars were a product of Victorian period though only the rich people could afford them. It was Karl Benz who designed the first car in the year 1885. This car consisted of three wheelers and contained gas engine of one cylinder. The speed limit was four miles per hour for cars. A special attendant was required to walk in front of the car carrying a red flag as a warning sign.

While Guglielmo Marconi, from Italy, took pride in inventing the radio in the year 1895, James Starley from the United Kingdom invented the bicycle. One of the most striking features of this bicycle was that it had no brakes and the front wheel was almost 6 feet from top to bottom. Also, the seat was on the wheel.

This list should also include some other interesting inventions like Christmas Card by John Horsely, Concrete which is used for construction purposes by Monier; sewing machine by Elias Howe; safety match, petrol, oil, Ice cream, X-rays, rubber tyres, pneumatic tyres, gramophone, electric tram, underground railway in London, typewriter, horse drawn tram, as well as the first hydro-electric power station which produced electricity from fast flowing water etc which find a place even in today’s day to day life, are all a gift from the Victorian era.

Complete list of famous Victorian era inventions

Here is a timeline of inventions during the Victorian era. Please note that not inventions are from Britain, but includes inventions from other countries like USA, France etc. as well.

Year Invention
1838 First photograph
1839 Photographic paper to develop pictures
1839 Invention of the first pedal bicycle
1839 The first paddle steamship
1840 First postage stamps introduced
1843 First Christmas card
1844 Invention of Morse Code message
1845 Invention of rubber tyres
1845 London Road in Nottingham covered with tarmac (tarmacadam) making roads smoother
1846 Sewing Machine invented
1849 Concrete development helped further construction
1849 First glider flown by a pilot
1850s Invention of post boxes
1850 Petrol
1850 Sewing machine with possible home use
1851 Invention of ice cream in the USA
1852 Opening of first public flushing toilet  in London
1854 Iron converted to steel, giving strength and making buildings and shipbuilding possible
1855 Safety matches
1856 Pasteurizing process
1859 Discovery of oil
1860 Horse-drawn tram
1863 The world’s first underground steam powered railway becomes operational in London
1864 First jelly babies made
1872 Invention of the penny-farthing bicycle with huge front wheels and no breaks
1873 Typewriter invention
1875 The first chocolate Easter eggs
1876 Invention of telephone on 7 March 1876
1877 Voice recording
1878 Electric street lighting starts in London
1879 Invention of the electric light bulb
1885 Safety Bicycle with chain, driven rear wheel and same size wheels
1883 Electric railway started
1884 Blackpool has first British electric tram network
1885 Invention of first petrol motorcar
1887 Invention of the gramophone
1888 Pneumatic tyres by Dunlop
1888 Kodak box camera
1894 Moving pictures  invented
Dec 18 1890 The first electric public rail / underground train in London
1890 First comic book
1891 The first hydro-electric power station which generated electricity from water flow
1895 X-rays which revolutionised modern medicine
1895 Wireless radio

This list of inventions during the Victorian era is surely not an exhaustive one but hope it highlights the things Victorians did for us.