William Thomas Mulvany

The address of the city fathers read: About ten years ago you came to Gelsenkirchen to commence the undertaking which you have carried out with so much talent.

You found Gelsenkirchen in an undeveloped condition, with bad roads, and one of the most insignificant stations on the Cologne and Minden Railway.

He learned technical drawing with an architect and joined the Irish Survey Office at the age of 20 years as a surveyor.

Mulvany was successively responsible for planning of waterways and the modernization of the fishing industry, but especially for the purpose of drainage of large areas of agricultural exploitation.

Mulvany came in 1855 as a representative and member of a group of Irish investors to Germany to participate in the coal mining in Ruhr.

Afterwards he wrote: As a result of a short visit to the Head Mining Office and examination of the geological map, I immediately realised what wonderfully extensive riches were hidden under the earth.

[6]Mulvany's special focus was directing transport, distribution and development of new markets for the coal mined in the Ruhr.