3-095-511 - "Royal Academy of Arts, London; photographer: Prudence Cuming"/Heritage Images

William Huskisson (1770-1830), bronze commemorative medal, 1830. Profile portrait of Huskisson, British statesman, financier, and Member of Parliament, commonly known as the world's first widely reported railway passenger casualty, since he was run over and fatally injured by Robert Stephenson's pioneering locomotive Rocket. Just before his death, Huskisson had undergone surgery, and had been advised by Royal doctor William George Maton to cancel all forthcoming appointments, which included the opening of the Liverpool and Manchester Railway. He chose to ignore this advice, believing the opening event too important to avoid. Huskisson, known to be clumsy, panicked and made two attempts to cross the railway line, then tried to clamber into the Duke of Wellington's carriage. However, the carriage door had not been latched, and so it slowly swung open, leaving him hanging directly in the path of the oncoming Rocket, which hit the door, throwing Huskisson onto the tracks in front of the train. His leg was horrifically mangled by the locomotive and he later died of his injuries.