John Gadberry

     British lower-middle-class inventor

     5' 5" tall, 11 stone, green eyes, uncombed black hair, tweedy suits and derby hats; born 12 November 1816, age 60

• social goal: be recognized as a genius
  

• professional goal:  invent lots of stuff ("What's it for? Oh, don't bother me with such questions!")

• romantic goal:
  

• nemesis:  doubting thomases, people out to steal inventions

     You are an only child, born in Leeds to an ironmaster's family. Educated in local parish schools, you were apprenticed to another ironmaster, and worked for many years in various Midlands engineering and railway works. You picked up much of your education in mechanic's free libraries, and have been a lecturer in a mechanic's night school.

     In 1855, your design for a Highway Engine was purchased by the Crewe Works, and you were finally able to set up your own workshop. Your major inventions are:  Gadberry's Patent Highway Engine (a large traction engine, 1852); Synthetic Pith (1857); Transparent Rubber (1860); Electric Beach Tram (1862) and the related Submersible Trolley (not yet completed); Resonant Indexing System (1862); Alp Ascender (1866); Luminous Fruit (1869); Electric Mailman (a clockwork robot, not yet complete); and the Gadberry Aeronaut (a hydrogen dirigible, not yet complete).

     You speak English, and bad French and German (though you can read them well).

     An old farm in Oxfordshire has been converted to your workshop; there are several windmills, steam engines, and water turbines powering the equipment there. A large airship hangar is partly constructed.

Health 5 points.