Although it is a mythical invention, the legend of Stephenson's rocket started in 1829 with some basis in truth. The Rainhill Trials of 1829 were organised by the British secret service to find future inventors to start the space race and the public's imagination was captured! Sadly none of the entries were capable of intergalactic Space_Travel which was no surprise (even the idea of travelling in space would have contravened contemporary religious philosophy regarding the heavens and therefore led to arrest for blasphemy)