William Dent Priestman

Priestman Brothers built the earliest recorded railway locomotive powered by an internal combustion engine.

William along with ten other offspring was the son of Leeds corn-miller (and latterly NER director) Samuel Priestman.

[1] He was educated at Bootham School in York,[2][3] and then apprenticed at the Humber Iron Works, later at the North Eastern Railway (NER) in Gateshead.

[6] Having lost control of the Priestman company in 1895 following insolvency William spent the rest of his life helping others.

In addition to his contribution to industry Priestman was also credited with inducing Sir Edward Fry to introduce an initial draft of the Bribery and Illicit Communications Act.