Huskisson was a railway enthusiast; fascinated by the developing British railway system and in 1830 he attended the opening ceremony of the Liverpool and Manchester Railway,the world’s first purpose built inter-city passenger railway. The ceremony consisted of a procession of Stephenson’s Rockets each drawing carriages full of dignitaries including the Duke of Wellington. In his excitement, Huskisson strayed on to the railway track and was mowed down by one of Stevenson’s locomotives, thereby not only ruining the dignity of the ceremony, but also making him the first railway fatality in British history.