Constituency : Honiton 1847-60
Joseph was the son of a colliery manager from Tyneside and served an apprenticeship under him. He met George Stephenson who was a fireman there. Joseph's expertise in engineering was already noted as a teenager and Stephenson engaged him to work on the Stockton and Darlington Railway in 1823. Despite some differences over method the two worked together on the Liverpool and Manchester Railway. Joseph was driving Rocket when it killed William Huskisson at the opening of the railway. They moved on to the Grand Junction Railway where they were given responsibility for different halves of the line. Joseph's greater efficiency and skill in project manager was soon exposed and Stephenson walked off the project rather than accept Joseph being given equal status. Joseph subsequently took on the whole project himself where he became noted for the accuracy of his costing. Joseph took on many other railway projects such as the Lancaster and Carlisle Railway and the Manchester and Sheffield Railway. He avoided tunnels whenever possible though he is responsible for the three mile Woodhead Tunnel. He also took on commissions in France and in 1852 broke his leg while surveying a tunnel near Cherbourg. He was president of the Institute of Civil Engineers from 1857-9. Joseph's skills soon earned him a fortune and he became a considerable landowner in Honiton where he became an MP. He only spoke in the House on subjects where he had some expertise and so always gained respectful attention. He made a number of philanthropic gifts to his home town of Barnsley.
He died of appendicitis while on a shooting holiday in 1860 aged 55.
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