This blog was researched and written by Library Volunteer Edward Maunder. 

I only recently discovered George Parker Bidder (GPBI), 1806-1878, as a most talented Devonian, who early in his boyhood became a calculating prodigy, and later in adult life became an internationally famous civil engineer. I’m sure that these attributes were linked, and also led to the success of his son (GPBII) as a lawyer, and his grandson (GPBIII) as a zoologist. My discovery was initiated by two events: (i) a short holiday in Moretonhampstead in March 2023, where a bronze bust of GPBI was funded by alumni of the University of Edinburgh School of Engineering in July 2021 together with a display board, and (ii) the finding in the library of the Devon and Exeter Institution of a slim volume printed in Exeter in 1821 recording “the most Difficult Questions” and “his Surprising Rapid Answers” in the field of mental arithmetic.

From the age of about eight, his abilities at mental arithmetic were so amazing that his father decided to tour the country with him so as to display his skills and earn some money! This was a move reminiscent of Leopold Mozart taking the young Wolfgang around Europe. George’s tour included Windsor, at the age of nine, where he was invited by Queen Charlotte, wife of King George III. One of the questions put to him by Queen Charlotte went as follows: from Land’s End to Farret’ Head in Scotland is found by measurement to be 838 miles, how long would a snail be creeping that distance, at the rate of 8 feet per day? His answer, delivered after 28 seconds: 553,080 days [Ian Mortimer].

‘Portrait of GPB as a boy with a whip. Painter unknown’. Image published in E. F. Clark, ‘George Parker Bidder: The calculating Boy’, (1983).

At age 13 he visited Edinburgh and was tested by members of the University, and it was noted “all this power of calculation he has acquired without using arithmetical education from books or masters” , indeed he developed independently his own rules of arithmetic, e.g., multiplication! He made such an impression that he was awarded a bursary to continue his education, and entered the University at age 14, leaving at age 18 with certificates in mathematics and mechanics from individual professors. An important friend made at Edinburgh was Robert Stephenson with whom he worked for much of his professional career as a civil engineer.

By the age of 29 he became a partner with Robert Stephenson, and married Georgina and took one day’s honeymoon! This was now in the Victorian era, with a tremendous development of railways in the UK and other countries. Over the next decade his contribution to railways and other major civil engineering works made him a lot of money, and he was able to buy Mitcham Hall and a farm on the river Wandle in south London. One of the reasons for his success must have been his reputation for completing projects on time and within a meticulously costed budget (enabled no doubt by his memory and powers of mental arithmetic). It seems that this reputation was a little at odds with that of Isambard Brunel, who had a tendency for delays and overrunning budgets. George helped to complete the Clifton suspension bridge after the death of Brunel in 1859.

That year must have been a painful one for George, since both Brunel and his long term friend and professional partner Robert Stephenson died. However in the following year, 1860, his 20 year old daughter Lizzi was married, he completed a new house at Dartmouth, and he became the President of the Institution of Civil Engineers.

‘GBP at the time he presented his paper on Mental Calculation in 1856. (Reproduced from the Illustrated London News, 15 March 1856).’ Image published in E. F. Clark, ‘George Parker Bidder: The calculating Boy’, (1983).

One of his friends while he lived in Dartmouth was William Froude, another famous civil engineer, who borrowed his steam-launch, (an indication of the wealth of Bidder, comparable in modern terms with having your own private jet), as a tow for his early experiments in ship design. They compared two model hulls by towing them either side of the launch from the ends of a boom to keep them clear of the wash. This work was probably carried out in the River Dart. Bidder was also a founder member of the Dart Yacht Club and was instrumental in enabling it to acquire the Royal warrant.

It appears that the family lived in Dartmouth until 1864, when he moved to another new house built on the river Wandle in Morden. This house was later transferred to his elder son, the lawyer GPBII.

Apart from railway projects, Bidder was responsible for large projects involving London docks and advising as a consultant to the Metropolitan Board of Works on the long arguments relating to water supply, drainage and sewage treatment for London.

His connections with Devon led to him becoming the President of the Devonshire Association for the Advancement of Science, Literature and the Arts in 1869, known nowadays more simply as the Devonshire Association. His Presidential address concerned rivers as a topic of most interest to engineers particularly as regards: water supply, inland navigation, and mechanical power. He noted “The fact is, that at present steam power produced by coal is so cheap and convenient as to eclipse all other sources; but the time will certainly come (though it may be long hence) when the coal can no longer be so economically raised.”

It is interesting to note that his grandson GPBIII, also became President of the Devonshire Association many years later and his Presidential address concerned the sea.

Whilst in Moretonhampstead I was interested to find in the Tourist Office, amongst the guides and maps, a copy of the book George Parker Bidder: The calculating boy, written by a descendant of his. This book covers the whole life of GPBI including a thorough description of his accomplishments as a civil engineer as an equal with the likes of engineering contemporaries Isambard Brunel and Robert Stephenson.

 

The following books are available to view in the Devon and Exeter Institution library:

A short account of George Bidder, the celebrated mental calculator; with a variety of the most difficult questions proposed to him at the principal towns in the kingdom, and his surprising rapid answers!, (1821). Classmark: S. W. Cupboard 1821 SHO

E. F. Clark, George Parker Bidder: the calculating boy, (1983). Classmark: AB/92 Bid/C