Leeds news items on today's date (June 18) in 1813 and 1870.

[Leodian]

The following are reported in John Mayhall's 'Annals of Yorkshire'.June 18 1813. "Messrs. Fenton, Murray, and Wood, of Leeds, on the 18th of June, exhibited a new steam boat in the river Aire, when the novelty of the exhibition attracted an immense crowd of spectators."June 18 1870. "A gardener's labourer, named Edmund Cotton, while acting as a marker, at a private rifle range at Parlington Park, near Leeds, was accidentally shot by Lieutenant-Colonel Gascoigne. The marker had left the rifle butt while the firing was preceeding, and without receiving any signal. The ball passed through his body and killed him on the spot."Extra added around 23:45 on June 18 2012. In information I've found it states Murray is (as I expected) the famous Matthew Murray and that "Industry in the Leeds area was developing fast and it became apparent that there was an opportunity for a firm of general engineers and millwrights to set up. Therefore, in 1795, Murray went into partnership with David Wood...and set up a factory at Mill Green, Holbeck. There were several mills in the vicinity and the new firm supplied machinery to them. The firm was so successful that in 1797 it moved to larger premises at Water Lane, Holbeck. The firm welcomed two new partners at this point; James Fenton (previously Marshall's partner) and William Lister (a millwright of Bramley, Leeds). The firm became known as Fenton, Murray and Wood. Murray was the technical innovator and in charge of obtaining orders; Wood was in charge of day to day running of the works; Fenton was the accountant."

[Leodian]

I have added some information on Murray, Wood and Fenton to my original post and have posted this so that those who have already viewed this thread may wish to see what I have added, as they would not otherwise know of the extra material.