A BIT OF BICYCLE HISTORY

Did You Know Who Invented the Bicycle?

from "Bicycle: The History" by David Herlihy

Kirkpatrick MacMillan was born in Coathill, near Dumfries, Scotland, in 1812. He was the son of a blacksmith and although as a young man he tried a variety of jobs, he finally went to work with his father. One day, he saw someone on a velocipede, a two wheeled frame pushed along by the rider's feet. He decided to build one for himself and when it was completed, he thought that it would be a huge improvement if he could propel it without putting his feet on the ground. He worked on his idea and finally, in 1838, he completed the world's first ever pedal bicycle.

Kirkpatrick MacMillan's prototype bicycle was propelled by a horizontal, reciprocating movement of the rider's feet, similar to children's toy cars . The movement was transmitted to cranks on the rear wheel by connecting rods and operated like the rods connecting the wheels on a steam locomotive. The machine was extremely heavy and the physical effort required to ride it must have been considerable.

MacMillan could eventually cover the 14 miles from his home to Dumfries in less than an hour. In June 1842, he made the 62-mile trip to Glasgow over the space of two days. He had a minor accident there when a child ran in front of him and he was fined five shillings. The judge subsequently asked him to complete a figure of eight on his bicycle for him and was so impressed, he gave him the money to pay his fine.

MacMillan never thought of patenting his invention or trying to make any money out of it - but others were not slow to realize its potential! Soon, copies began to appear for sale. Gavin Dalzell of Lesmahagow copied MacMillan's machine in 1846 and thereafter gave the details to so many people that for more than fifty years, he was generally regarded as the inventor of the bicycle.

MacMillan was, however, quite unconcerned with the fuss his invention had prompted, preferring to enjoy the quiet country life to which he was accustomed. He died on 26 January 1878.

Thomas McCall

Another who did not make the most of his opportunity.

Thomas McCall, who had seen MacMillan on his way to Glasgow, upgraded the bicycle with brakes and other improvements. In the mid 1880's he was the first to sell bicycles commercially from his workshop in Kilmarnock. He declined any recognition for his inventions and, like MacMillan, never took out any patents.

There are two of McCall's bicycles on public display. One at The London Science Museum and another in the Dumfries Observatory Museum.