George Hudson George Hudson George Hudson (probably 10 March 1800 – 14 December 1871) was an English railway financier and politician who, because he controlled a significant part of the railway network in the 1840s, became known as "The Railway King" – a title conferred on him by Sydney Smith in 1844. Hudson played a significant role in linking London to Edinburgh by rail, carrying out the first major merging of railway companies (the Midland Railway), developing his hometown of York into a major railway junction, and represented Sunderland in the House of Commons. Hudson's success was built on dubious financial practices
George Gipps (MP for Ripon) George Gipps (MP for Ripon) George Gipps (29 December 1783 – 26 April 1869) of Howletts, near Canterbury, Kent, was an English politician. He was born the eldest son of George Gipps, MP of Harbledown, near Canterbury, Kent and educated at Charterhouse School (1793), St. John’s College, Cambridge (1801) and Lincoln's Inn (1805). In 1816 he purchased the recently rebuilt Howletts House, between Littlebourne and Bekesbourne, where he and his wife lived until their deaths. He was a Member of Parliament (MP) for Ripon 1807 to 1826. He married Jane, the daughter of John Bowdler of Hayes. He had 6