Matthias W. Baldwin

Matthias William Baldwin (December 10, 1795 – September 7, 1866) was an American inventor and machinery manufacturer, specializing in the production of steam locomotives. Baldwin's small machine shop, established in 1825, grew to become Baldwin Locomotive Works, one of the largest and most successful locomotive manufacturing firms in the United States. The most famous of the early locomotives were Old Ironsides, built by Matthias Baldwin in 1832. Baldwin was also a strong advocate of abolitionism.

Early years Matthias W. Baldwin was born December 10, 1795, in Elizabethtown, New Jersey. He was the youngest of five children born to a prosperous carriage builder named William Baldwin. Following his father's death in 1799, executors of the Baldwin estate proved unequal to the task, however, and his widow and children were left in difficult financial circumstances owing to their poor management.

Although he received a very satisfactory common school education, Baldwin's inclination and aptitude related to mechanical tinkering from an early age. This engine, nicknamed Old Ironsides, traveled at the rate of only in initial trials made on November 23, 1832, but the machine was later refined and improved so that a peak speed of was attained. This locomotive was a 2-2-0 (Whyte notation) type, meaning it had one unpowered leading axle and one powered driving axle. Although contracted for $4,000, owing to performance shortcomings a compromise price of $3,500 (equal to $ today) between the railroad and the budding Baldwin Locomotive Works was ultimately agreed upon and received.

Baldwin was issued "Art of managing and supplying fire for generating steam in locomotive-engines" in 1836. As the text of the patent explained "The intention of this new mode of managing the fire is to enable me, at each water station, or any convenient place to have a clear coal fire waiting the arrival of the engine so that the grate or fire-place which has been in use, may be detached or slid out, and that containing the clear fire, made to occupy its place."

Personal life

Baldwin was a devout member of the Presbyterian Church and a consistent donor to religious and secular charitable causes throughout his life.

In 1835, he donated money to establish a school for African-American children in Philadelphia and continued to pay the teachers' salaries out of his own pocket for years thereafter.

At the time of its founder's death, the Baldwin Locomotive Works had produced some 1,500 steam locomotives.