George Parker Bidder was a native of Moretonhampstead, in this county, and was brought into public notice at a very early age through the wonderful power of mental calculation which he developed without having received any instruction. He was born in very humble circumstances, his father being a stonemason; and at the age of seven, when his talent first became apparent, he did not know the meaning of the word “multiplication”, nor could he read the common numerical symbols.
[His talent gained him a place at Edinburgh University where he was a classmate of Robert Stevenson. He worked as a surveyor, as a civil engineer, and from 1834 with the] staff of Messrs. George and Robert Stephenson, with whom he was engaged for many years, taking part in the construction of the London and Birmingham, the South Eastern, North Kent, London and Blackwall, Norwich and Yarmouth, Northampton and Peterborough, Trent Valley, North Staffordshire, and many other railways.
Bidder, George Parker – The Devonshire Association (devonassoc.org.uk)
Devon Perspectives George Parker Bidder - The phenomenal mental calculation prodigy from Moretonhampstead
George Parker Bidder - the calculating boy wonder (devonperspectives.co.uk)
Science Museum George Parker Bidder (1806-1878)
George Parker Bidder | Science Museum Group Collection
Wikipedia George Parker Bidder (13 June 1806 – 20 September 1878) was an English engineer and calculating prodigy. On leaving college in 1824, George received a post in the ordnance survey, but gradually drifted into engineering work. In 1834 Robert Stephenson, whose acquaintance he had made in Edinburgh, offered him an appointment on the London & Birmingham Railway, and in the succeeding year or two he began to assist George Stephenson in his parliamentary work, which at that time included schemes for railways between London and Brighton and between Manchester and Rugby via the Potteries. In this way he was introduced to engineering and parliamentary practice at a period of great activity which saw the establishment of the main features and principles that have since governed English railway construction.
