Francis Crossley was born at Glenburn, County Antrim, and was educated at the Royal School, Dungannon. He served with the Tyrone militia. He became apprenticed in Sir William Armstrong's works, where he developed a gas engine. He established a large firm at Openshaw and subsequently manufactured Crossley motors and engines. He was renowned for his work as a philanthropist. [Biography by Rendel Harris (1899)]

Born:	1839
Died:	12 October 1879