Stephenson, George (1781-1848), was a British engineer whose inventions helped create the British railroad system. In 1814, while working as chief mechanic at a coal mine in Killingworth, near Newcastle, he completed his first locomotive. This locomotive, Blucher, could pull eight coal cars at 4 miles (6 kilometers) per hour. Stephenson helped his son, Robert, build the Rocket, a locomotive that became the model for almost all later steam locomotives. He also created such useful inventions as a miner's lamp and an alarm clock. In addition, Stephenson sponsored schools and libraries for miners and their children.