George Washington Whistler-- Part 2: Major Mover in Early American Railroads and "Whistler's Father"

After major involvement in the development of U.S. railroads, in 1842, he went to Russia as a consulting engineer on the Saint Petersburg-Moscow Railway, the first large-scale endeavor by the Russian government.  He introduced the Howe truss bridge to Russia.

Sadly, he is probably best known for being the father of artist James McNeill Whistler, who painted the famous artwork referred to as "Whistler's Mother."

--Brock-Perry