Kirkpatrick Macmillan. Kirkpatrick Macmillan (Born 2 September 1812 in Keir, Dumfries and Galloway; died 26 January 1878 in Keir) was a Scottish blacksmith.
He is generally credited with inventing the rear-wheel driven bicycle. Invention of pedal driven bicycle? [edit] According to the research of his relative James Johnston in the 1890s, Macmillan was the first to invent the pedal-driven bicycle.[1][2] Johnston, a corn trader and tricyclist, had the firm aim, in his own words "to prove that to my native country of Dumfries belongs the honour of being the birthplace of the invention of the bicycle". [3] Macmillan allegedly completed construction of a pedal driven bicycle of wood in 1839 that included iron-rimmed wooden wheels, a steerable wheel in the front and a larger wheel in the rear which was connected to pedals via connecting rods. A 1939 plaque on the family smithy in Courthill reads "He builded better than he knew. " Scepticism[edit] Other claims to invention[edit] See also[edit] Literature[edit]
Kirkpatrick Macmillan Feature Page on Undiscovered Scotland. Kirkpatrick Macmillan lived from 2 September 1812 to 26 January 1878.
He was a blacksmith credited by many as the inventor of the rear-wheel driven bicycle. The wider picture in Scotland at the time is set out in our Historical Timeline. Kirkpatrick Macmillan was born at Keir Mill near Thornhill in Dumfries and Galloway. His father was a blacksmith and at the age of 12, Kirkpatrick became an apprentice to him. It is worth noting at this point that just about every aspect of the story of the invention of the bicycle is subject to considerable controversy, but what follows is a fairly popular interpretation of events based on research initially published in 1899 by a descendent of Macmillan's, James Johnston. Overview of Kirkpatrick Macmillan. Kirkpatrick MacMillan. Lever-driven Bicycle c1849.
From 'Bartleet's Bicycle Book'. Picture published in May 1939. Kirkpatrick Macmillan. Kirkpatrick MacMillan (1812-1878) was an early pioneer of the bicycle in around 1840 Kirkpatrick Macmillan (Born 2 September 1812 in Keir, Dumfries and Galloway; Died 26 January 1878 in Keir) was a Scottish blacksmith who was given credit for inventing the rear-wheel driven bicycle in a publicity campaign by a relative, a rich corn trader and tricyclist named James Johnston in the 1890s.
Johnston's articles stated that he completed construction of a pedal driven bicycle of wood in 1839, and that it had iron-rimmed wooden wheels, a steerable 30 inch (760 mm) wheel in the front and a 40 inch (1016 mm) wheel in the rear which was connected to pedals via connecting rods. The first man to fit pedals to a bicycle was Kirkpatrick MacMillan, a blacksmith of Courthill, Kier, Dumfriesshire, in 1839 or 1840.
See Also Sources of Information ↑ Bartleet's Bicycle Book [1] Wikipedia. Bicycle. The most popular bicycle model—and most popular vehicle of any kind in the world—is the Chinese Flying Pigeon, with some 500 million in service.[1] A bicycle, often called a bike, is a human-powered, pedal-driven, single-track vehicle, having two wheels attached to a frame, one behind the other.
A bicycle rider is called a cyclist, or bicyclist. Bicycles were introduced in the 19th century in Europe and now number more than a billion worldwide, twice as many as automobiles.[2] They are the principal means of transportation in many regions. They also provide a popular form of recreation, and have been adapted for use as children's toys, general fitness, military and police applications, courier services, and bicycle racing. The bicycle's invention has had an enormous effect on society, both in terms of culture and of advancing modern industrial methods.
Etymology[edit] History[edit] Wooden draisine (around 1820), the first two-wheeler and as such the archetype of the bicycle Uses[edit] History - Historic Figures: Kirkpatrick Macmillan (1812 - 1878)