A poem to celebrate the 150th anniversary of the modern engine

As this year marks the 150th anniversary of the Otto Crossley Patent four stroke engine I penned a little poem in celebration. This very important anniversary is actually the anniversary of the first true modern engine. Francis William (known as Frank) Crossley 1839 – 1897 was from County Antrim. His engineering genius took the crude laboratory ideas of German inventor Nikolaus August Otto (1832 – 1891) and by perfecting the concept made the four stroke compressed charge engine a working engine for real world use.  He and his younger brother William John Crossley (1844 – 1911) would under worldwide Patent rights with Otto, then mass produce the engine by the tens of thousands at the Crossley Brothers factory in Manchester. This in turn would see the engine globally accepted as the first viable replacement to steam, commencing the second industrial revolution.

The first modern engine would enable all industrial and mobile power on land, sea and air over the last 150 years, it was and indeed still is that important. To me Frank Crossley really did light the internal fire flame (a flame was actually used to ignite the compressed gas in the engine.)

The poem is called Frank Crossley; and the one hundred and fiftieth anniversary of the modern engine; 1876 – 2026:

In Ulster’s green; pleasant and historic misty land,

A son of Antrim was born in eighteen thirty nine; a helping hand.

Francis William Crossley; called Frank with a mind so keen,

A world changing pioneer; a future as a genius seen.

From Tyrone’s soil; his journey as an innovator starts,
With clever hands, vision and future for humanity charts.
Frank saw the need; a more modern power to create,
To move the world; and seal its great industrial fate.

Then in eighteen seventy-six; a wondrous year,
A revolutionary compressed charge engine banishing fear.
The Otto Crossley Patent engine; he perfected new,
With four sure strokes; reliable, efficient, honest and true.

No longer steam; a dangerous and clumsy might,
But safe controlled power; burning globally bright.
It pulled and pushed; with steady silent; rotary grace,
The first true and modern engine; found its worthy place.

In Manchester Frank didn't stop; with just a few,
With brother William; many made; for me and you.
Crossley Brothers; built them strong; production line fast,
A legacy of Ulster-Scot innovation; designed to last.

This modern marvel; small; powerful and neat,
Became the engine of the farm and street.
It drove the vehicles; it spun the mill,
A world transformed; with Frank’s vibrant will.

From Crossley's dream; this power grew,
On air; land and sea; for all things new.
It carried goods and folk; replaced the old and lit the night,
A beacon burning; economical, strong, quiet and bright.

And now we marvel in respect; with grateful eyes,
In twenty twenty-six; beneath the changing skies.
One hundred and fifty years; by technology has flown,
Since this great revolutionary engine's seed was sown.

So raise a cheer for Frank Crossley; in celebration name,
The pioneering Ulsterman who lit the internal fire flame.
The Otto Crossley Patent engine; a shining modern star,
The world by revolution changed; both near and far.

Stevan D. T. Patterson, Castlederg County Tyrone.