Trevithick, Richard (1771-1833)

Richard Trevithick, famed for pioneering high-pressure steam engines and the first locomotive journey in 1804, spent an overlooked decade (1816–1827) in Latin America. His arrival at Cerro de Pasco, Peru, marked the Industrial Revolution’s entry into the New World, where he oversaw steam engine operations in silver mining amid political turmoil. After the collapse of mining ventures, he pursued trade and gold mining in Costa Rica, undertaking ambitious but largely unsuccessful schemes. This paper re-evaluates Trevithick’s transatlantic legacy, drawing on new archival evidence to highlight his role as an agent of industrial innovation beyond Britain.