Mails to Ireland: Difference between revisions

 

===John Palmer===

 

It was [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Palmer_(postal_innovator) John Palmer] of Bath (1742 -1818) who is reputed to have introduced the coach or chaise to carry the mail after realising how vulnerable the post boys were on horseback and his idea was to form the catalyst of the postal service we have today. He initially met with resistance from officials who believed that the existing system could not be improved, but eventually the Chancellor of the Exchequer, William Pitt, allowed him to carry out an experimental run between Bristol and London. Under the old system the journey had taken up to 38 hours. The coach, funded by Palmer, left Bristol at 4 pm on 2 August 1784 and arrived in London just 16 hours later. It was a success and most of the doubters were won over. In 1785 Palmer introduced the first mail coach from London via Chester to Holyhead. The next year the Post Office agreed to assume responsibility for its running and thus legalised the carrying of mail by authorised stage coaches.