Henry Archer facts for kids
Henry Archer (1799 – 2 March 1863) was an important person from Ireland. He was born in 1799 and passed away in 1863. He studied at Trinity College, Dublin and became a lawyer. Archer spent much of his life working in North Wales and London.
Building the Ffestiniog Railway
Henry Archer is best known for his work on the Ffestiniog Railway. This railway was a huge project for him. He was known for his strong personality and big ideas.
In 1829, Archer met Samuel Holland Jnr. at an inn. Holland owned a slate mine in Blaenau Ffestiniog. He suggested that Archer should build a railway from Ffestiniog to Porthmadog. This railway would help transport slate from the mines.
Archer became very involved in starting the Ffestiniog Railway Company. He was the main person who raised money for the railway. He even put a lot of his own money into the project. Archer also worked hard to get the railway approved by Parliament.
Managing the Railway's Early Years
As the Managing Director, Archer guided the company during construction. He also helped manage it in its first years. It was not easy to convince the slate industry to use the new railway. They were unsure about trusting their valuable slate to a train.
Archer had some disagreements with other directors and local estates. After the railway opened, he was less active in its daily operations. However, he remained a director until 1860. The Ffestiniog Railway Company later gave him a pension. This was to thank him for starting the railway and for his many years of service.
Inventing the Stamp Perforator
Besides railways, Henry Archer is also famous for something else. He invented the first machine to make holes in postage stamps. These holes, called perforations, make it easy to tear stamps apart.
Archer patented his invention in 1848. After successful tests, he sold his invention to the Postmaster General. This made it much easier for people to use postage stamps.
Henry Archer passed away in Pau, Pyrénées-Atlantiques, France on March 2, 1863.
