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Originally Little Harcourt Street. George Shillibeer (August 11, 1797 – August 21, 1866), was a coach designer and builder, who introduced the first regular omnibus services onto London’s roads in 1829 and in so doing became the father of London Transport. His idea allowed middle-class commuters to work beyond more than walking distance from their home. He was born in Marylebone, the son of Abraham and Elizabeth Shillibeer and christened at nearby St Mary’s Church, on October 22, 1797. He came up with the idea of a bus service while working in Long Acre following a commission from Paris to build a large horse-drawn carriage capable of carrying a large group of people. This led to him coming up with the idea of a commercial service along a standardised route with frequent stops for passengers to get on or off. In the meantime he was given an order from the Newington Academy for Girls, a Quaker school in Stoke Newington, to build a carriage for a group of children, the world’s first school bus. On July 4, 1829, Shillibeer started operating his service in London along a regular route. He began with two omnibuses carrying between 16 or 18 passengers each pulled by three horses. It ran from the Yorkshire Stingo inn at the junction of New Road (Marylebone/Euston Road) to the City Road and back. A naval officer was on board to reassure his first passengers. Fares were one shilling which included a newspaper. There are four services in each direction daily. Such was its success that the routes were extended but he soon faced competition from rival coach firms. He later introduced routes to the commuter suburbs, but was ruined by the coming of the railways. However, he lived to see the formation of the London General Omnibus Company.
