The Life, Times, and Scientific Labours of the Second Marquis of Worcester

Born around 1601 into one of England’s most distinguished noble families, Edward Somerset, the second Marquis of Worcester, lived through the turmoil of civil war and the Restoration. Though his lineage linked him to ancient Plantagenet royalty, it was his restless curiosity and inventive mind that set him apart. He is best remembered today for pioneering work on early steam‑powered machinery, a concept that would eventually blossom into the modern steam engine.

The memoir, assembled from scattered manuscripts, family papers, and contemporary accounts, weaves together his scientific experiments with the personal trials he endured as a Royalist under Cromwell’s regime. Readers will follow Worcester’s attempts to build a “parent engine,” a modest prototype that sparked the imagination of later engineers, while also seeing how political upheaval limited his resources and recognition. Henry Dircks’s commentary adds technical insight, making the work both a portrait of a remarkable inventor and a glimpse into 17th‑century scientific ambition.