C.F. Cheffins
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Charles Frederick Cheffins (10 September 1807 – 23 October 1861) was a British mechanical draughtsman,
cartographer Cartography (; from grc, χάρτης , "papyrus, sheet of paper, map"; and , "write") is the study and practice of making and using maps. Combining science, aesthetics and technique, cartography builds on the premise that reality (or an im ...
, consulting engineer, and surveyor. He was an assistant to
John Ericsson John Ericsson (born Johan Ericsson; July 31, 1803 – March 8, 1889) was a Swedish-American inventor. He was active in England and the United States. Ericsson collaborated on the design of the railroad steam locomotive ''Novelty'', which com ...
and George Stephenson, and surveyed for many British railroad companies in the mid-19th century. He is also known for the 1850 ''Cheffins' Map of English & Scotch Railways'' and other maps.


Biography

Cheffins was born in London, where his father was the manager of the New River Waterworks Company and supervised the manufacturing of wooden pipes used to supply water to the metropolis. Young Cheffins was admitted into Christ's Hospital as a scholar in July 1815. He remained there until 1822, diligently pursuing his studies, and received several gold medals for his proficiency in mathematics. Upon completion of his education, he was apprenticed to ''Messrs. Newton and Son'', patent agents and mechanical draughtsmen, where he became practised in making drawings from specifications and from models of machinery. He remained as an employee with ''Messrs. Newton and Son'' for some time after completing his apprenticeship. From 1830 he was engaged by Captain
John Ericsson John Ericsson (born Johan Ericsson; July 31, 1803 – March 8, 1889) was a Swedish-American inventor. He was active in England and the United States. Ericsson collaborated on the design of the railroad steam locomotive ''Novelty'', which com ...
to assist in making drawings for locomotive engines. The next year he became assistant to George Stephenson and prepared plans and sections of the projected Grand Junction Railway. On the completion of the parliamentary submissions for the Grand Junction Railway, between 1832 and 1833, he set up his own cartographical and drawing business, and spent over two decades working as a surveyor for numerous railroad construction projects in the United Kingdom. In 1838, he published his first ''Map of the Grand Junction Railway and Adjacent Country''; and the next year ''Cheffins's Official Map of the Railway from London to Birmingham, Manchester and Liverpool''. In 1846, Cheffins commissioned
John Cooke Bourne John Cooke Bourne (1 September 1814 – February 1896) was a British artist, engraver and photographer,John Hannavy (2013) ''Encyclopedia of Nineteenth-Century Photography.''. p. 196. best known for his lithographs showing the construction of th ...
to write the '' History of the Great Western Railway''. Occasionally, Cheffins also published lithographical work by others. In the year 1848, he had been elected an Associate of the Institution of Civil Engineers and continued to take interest in all their proceedings. One year before his death in 1861, the partnership between Cheffins and his sons—as surveyors, draftsmen, and lithographers—was dissolved by mutual consent. The business continued with Cheffins and his son Charles Richard Cheffins as partners. Cheffins died suddenly from internal injuries on 23 October 1861, leaving his son Charles to complete the work which he commenced a month or two before his death. His death, at the age of fifty-four, was said to have greatly impacted his friends, colleagues, and assistants, who had served under him in the numerous parliamentary campaigns in which he had been engaged – and to many of whom he had shown much kindness in recommending them to posts of trust and responsibility on the Indian Railways.


Work


Locomotive design

About the year 1830, he was engaged by Captain
John Ericsson John Ericsson (born Johan Ericsson; July 31, 1803 – March 8, 1889) was a Swedish-American inventor. He was active in England and the United States. Ericsson collaborated on the design of the railroad steam locomotive ''Novelty'', which com ...
to assist in making the drawings for the '' Novelty'' locomotive engine, then about to be constructed by Messrs. Braithwaite and Ericsson, to compete against the ''
Stephenson's Rocket Stephenson's ''Rocket'' is an early steam locomotive of 0-2-2 wheel arrangement. It was built for and won the Rainhill Trials of the Liverpool and Manchester Railway (L&MR), held in October 1829 to show that improved locomotives would be mo ...
'' and other locomotives on the Rainhill Trials on the
Manchester and Liverpool Railway The Liverpool and Manchester Railway (L&MR) was the first inter-city railway in the world. It opened on 15 September 1830 between the Lancashire towns of Liverpool and Manchester in England. It was also the first railway to rely exclusively ...
. The competition went against the ''Novelty'', on account of the failure of its blast apparatus. Cheffins was present at the opening of the Liverpool and Manchester Railway, and remained some time longer with Captain Ericsson, making drawings for other inventions, among which was a steam fire-engine and a caloric engine – machines which gained public attention, the former of which coming into general use. Cheffins's practical knowledge of machinery rendered him a valuable assistant in the preparation of the designs.


Testimony in patent-right lawsuits

In 1830, Cheffins reputation was such that he testified for the "defendants" in the patent infringement case of Lord Galloway and Alexander Cochrane versus John Braithwaite and
John Ericsson John Ericsson (born Johan Ericsson; July 31, 1803 – March 8, 1889) was a Swedish-American inventor. He was active in England and the United States. Ericsson collaborated on the design of the railroad steam locomotive ''Novelty'', which com ...
, in the Court of Chancery, where it was alleged that the boilers of the ''Novelty'' locomotive were of a type too similar to a design of the plaintiffs and where the Lord Chancellor found for the defendants. Subsequently, Cheffins took the stand in court more often. In one 1847 case narrated in ''The Railway Record'', "Charles F. Cheffins, engineer and surveyor, was called for the defence, proved that he had examined the plans and sections in question, and detected so many errors that the case became quite clear."


Grand Junction Railway

In 1831, Cheffins was introduced to railway pioneer George Stephenson by Stephenson's oldest associate and surveyor, a Mr. Padley. After the successful opening of the Liverpool and Manchester Railway, Stephenson became prominently involved in numerous other schemes. Cheffins' first occupation under Stephenson was the preparation of the plans and sections of the projected Grand Junction Railway, which was to connect the towns of Birmingham and Liverpool; and his persevering industry was noticed by, among other eminent engineers, Joseph Locke,
Frederick Swanwick Frederick Swanwick (1810–1885) was an English civil engineer who assisted George Stephenson, George and Robert Stephenson. He was responsible for much of the work on railways in the North and Midlands of England, particularly the Whitby and P ...
, Daniel Gooch.


Lithograph of London Station

In 1830, Cheffins started making lithographs, which were published in magazines such as an engraving representing the London Terminus of the London and Birmingham Railway, at Button Grove, in an 1837 issue of John Limbird's ''The Mirror of Literature, Amusement, and Instruction''. The engraving was reduced from a drawing by Thomas Allom and lithographed by Cheffins. The structure was being erected at the time of the publication. The building was designed by Philip Hardwick, an architect of
St. Katherine's Docks St Katharine Docks is a former dock and now a mixed-used district in Central London, in the London Borough of Tower Hamlets and within the East End. It lies on the north bank of the River Thames, immediately downstream of the Tower of London an ...
,
Goldsmith's Hall Goldsmiths' Hall is a Grade I listed building at the junction of Foster Lane and Gresham Street in the City of London. It has served as an assay office and the headquarters of London's goldsmith guild, the Worshipful Company of Goldsmiths, one o ...
, the City Clubhouse, and other buildings. The facade of the railway station would occupy about 300 feet towards Drummond Street, opposite a wide opening into Euston Square. The principal elevation consisted of a Grecian
Doric Doric may refer to: * Doric, of or relating to the Dorians of ancient Greece ** Doric Greek, the dialects of the Dorians * Doric order, a style of ancient Greek architecture * Doric mode, a synonym of Dorian mode * Doric dialect (Scotland) * Doric ...
portico A portico is a porch leading to the entrance of a building, or extended as a colonnade, with a roof structure over a walkway, supported by columns or enclosed by walls. This idea was widely used in ancient Greece and has influenced many cult ...
, with two antae, and two lodges, one on each side, the latter to house the offices of the company; the spaces between the columns and antae of the portico, and also of the lodges, were enclosed by iron gates.


Other lithographic work

In his studio at 9, Southampton Buildings, Holborn, Cheffins lithographed work for numerous other artists: * 1837 – In the month of August, Cheffins published a lithographed plate of a view of the apparatus used in the steamboat '' Francis B. Ogden'', with a description of its construction and use. * 1837 – Illustrations for the book ''Scenery in the north of Devon''. George Rowe; Charles F. Cheffins;
Paul Gauci Paul Gauci ( fl. 1830s-1860s), was a lithographer of Maltese extraction, carrying on a business in London with his father, Maxim Gauci, and brother, William. The firm, located at 9 North Crescent, Bedford Square, was among the leading lithograph ...
; George Hawkins; Henry Strong; G. Wilkins. Published by J. Banfield, Ilfracombe. * 1844 – Illustrations for ''Quarterly papers on architecture. : Forty-one engravings, many of which are coloured''. by Richard Hamilton Essex; John Richard Jobbins;
John Henry Le Keux John Henry Le Keux (23 March 1812 – 4 February 1896) was an English architectural engraver and draughtsman. Life The son of John Le Keux, he was born in Argyll Street, Euston Road, London, on 23 March 1812, and studied under James Basire III. He ...
; Charles F. Cheffins; R Gould; Published by London: Iohan Weale. * 1848 – Illustration "Perspective view of machinery in Fulton's Clermont" for Henry Bernoulli Barlow * 1848 – Illustrations for ''A sketch of the origin and progress of steam navigation from authentic documents'' by
Bennet Woodcroft Bennet Woodcroft FRS (20 December 1803 – 7 February 1879) was an English textile manufacturer, industrial archaeologist, pioneer of marine propulsion, a leading figure in patent reform and the first clerk to the commissioners of patents. B ...
. * 1852 – Lithographed illustrations of ''The Garden Companion and Florists' Guide'' by
Thomas Moore Thomas Moore (28 May 1779 – 25 February 1852) was an Irish writer, poet, and lyricist celebrated for his ''Irish Melodies''. Their setting of English-language verse to old Irish tunes marked the transition in popular Irish culture from Irish ...
. * 1852 – Lithographed London map designed by Benjamin Rees Davies. * 1854 – Drawing and publication of the famous map by
John Snow John Snow (15 March 1813 – 16 June 1858) was an English physician and a leader in the development of anaesthesia and medical hygiene. He is considered one of the founders of modern epidemiology, in part because of his work in tracing the so ...
that shows the clusters of cholera cases in the London epidemic of 1854.


Railroad surveys

On the completion of the parliamentary submissions for the Grand Junction Railway, Cheffins terminated his engagement with Stephenson. Foreseeing that railway schemes were only then in their infancy and that much work might be anticipated, Cheffins devoted himself exclusively to the surveying department of the profession and established himself in London, working independently, while retaining the patronage of those with whom he had been previously associated and adding other names to his list of friends. Robert Stephenson, the son of George, was among the latter, and under his direction and superintendence, Cheffins prepared many of the designs for the construction of the bridges on the London and Birmingham Railway. Cheffins was also engaged by Stephenson on other matters. Their friendship lasted until Stephenson's death, and Cheffins continued to hold him in high regard as someone crucial to his own success. In his further professional career, Cheffins completed numerous projects for the London and Blackwall Railway, the
Great Eastern Railway The Great Eastern Railway (GER) was a pre-grouping British railway company, whose main line linked London Liverpool Street to Norwich and which had other lines through East Anglia. The company was grouped into the London and North Eastern R ...
(then the Eastern Counties Railway), the
Trent Valley Line The Trent Valley line is a railway line between Rugby and Stafford in England, forming part of the West Coast Main Line. It is named after the River Trent which it follows. The line was built to provide a direct route from London to North West E ...
, and the
North Staffordshire Railway The North Staffordshire Railway (NSR) was a British railway company formed in 1845 to promote a number of lines in the Staffordshire Potteries and surrounding areas in Staffordshire, Cheshire, Derbyshire and Shropshire. The company was based i ...
—a few of which he lived to see to completion, although they were opposed in both houses of Parliament by other companies and large landed proprietors. In 1846, in recognition for Cheffins's services, a service of plate was presented to him by, among others, the leading engineers of the day. The last initiative Cheffins was a part of was the projected Great Eastern Northern Junction Railway Bill of 1860, (known familiarly as the "Coal Line"), which his friend
George Parker Bidder George Parker Bidder (13 June 1806 – 20 September 1878) was an English engineer and calculating prodigy.W. W. Rouse Ball (1960) ''Calculating Prodigies'', in Mathematical Recreations and Essays, Macmillan, New York, chapter 13. Early life Bo ...
had put in his hands, and in which he took an interest; but he died before its completion.


Selected publications

Cheffins published dozens of maps, most of railways. A selection: * Charles F. Cheffins. ''London & Birmingham railway: a plan of the line and adjacent country''. London: C. F. Cheffins, 1835. * Charles F. Cheffins. ''London and Birmingham railway: Map of the Railway from London to Box-Moor, and the adjacent Country''. London: Charles F. Cheffins, 1 August 1837; 1838 edition with Thomas W. Streeter. * Charles F. Cheffins; Thomas W. Streeter. ''Map of the Grand Junction Railway and adjacent country''. 1838 * Charles Frederick Cheffins. ''Cheffins's Official Map of the Railway from London to Birmingham, Manchester and Liverpool''. Wrightson & Webb. 1839 * Charles F. Cheffins; North Woolwich Railway. ''Plan and section of the North Woolwich Railway, in the counties of Essex and Kent''. 1844 * Charles Frederick Cheffins. ''Cheffins's map of the railways in Great Britain: from the ordnance surveys''. 1845 * Charles F. Cheffins. ''Map of the North Staffordshire lines: deposited with the Clerks of the Peace, Novr''. 1845 * Charles F. Cheffins. ''Plans and Sections of the Norwich and Dereham Railway'' 1845 * Charles F. Cheffins. ''Furness Railway''. London: C.F. Cheffins, lithographer, 1846. * Charles Frederick Cheffins. ''Cheffins's Map of English & Scotch Railways: accurately delineating all the lines at present opened ; and those which are in progress. Corrected to the present time, the map also shows the main roads throughout the kingdom, with the distances between the towns, forming a complete guide for the traveller and tourist''. 1847, 1850 * Charles F. Cheffins. ''Proposed railway from Cairo to the Sea of Suez''. London: C.F. Cheffins, 184ff. * Charles F. Cheffins. ''Cheffins's station map of the railways in Great Britain, from authentic sources''. London: Charles F. Cheffins and Sons, 1859 Other maps, a selection: * Charles Frederick Cheffins. ''Chart of the Gulf of Mexico, off St. Joseph's Island''. R. Hastings, 1841 * Charles Frederick Cheffins. ''A map of the Republic of Texas and the adjacent territories, indicating the grants of land conceded under the Empresario System of Mexico''. London: R. Hastings, 1841. * Charles Frederick Cheffins; Monroe. ''Aranzas Bay, as surveyed by Captn. Monroe of the 'Amos Wright''. London: R. Hastings, 1841 * Benjamin Rees Davies; Charles F. Cheffins; Orr & Compy.; Letts, Son & Co.,; J. Cross & Son. ''London and its environs''. London: Charles F. Cheffins. 1854 * Charles Frederick Cheffins. ''Plan of the Manor of Newington Barrow, Otherwise Highbury, in Islington. C.F. Cheffins, Lithr''. 1856


Notes


References

;Attribution This article incorporates public domain material from and other public domain material from books and/or websites.


External links


Charles Frederick Cheffins
on ''gracesguide.co.uk''
Charles Frederick Cheffins
on National Railway Museum; Data of 115 works by C.F. Cheffins {{DEFAULTSORT:Cheffins, Charles F. 1807 births 1861 deaths 19th-century cartographers Engineers from London British lithographers British railway civil engineers