William Robinson

William Robinson (November 22, 1840 – January 2, 1921) was an American inventor, electrical engineer, mechanical engineer and businessman. He invented the first track circuit used in railway signaling, a major development that improved railroad safety and efficiency. Early life and education William Robinson was born in Ireland on November 22, 1840. He came to the United States as a boy and lived in Brooklyn, New York for much of his adult life. He received his B.A. degree in 1865 and his M.A. degree in 1868 from Wesleyan University. He received a Ph.D. in Electrical and Mechanical Engineering from Boston University in 1907. Railway signaling inventions Robinson began developing an automatic block signal system for railroads in 1867. His first system was installed on the Philadelphia and Erie Railroad in 1870. He received multiple patents for railway signaling inventions: 1870: automatic electrical and electrically controlled fluid pressure signal systems (U.S.) 1871: automatic electro-pneumatic electric signal systems (U.K.) 1872: closed track circuit system (U.S. and France).