Wheelwright, William (1798-1873), an American businessman, did much to develop transportation and communication in South America. In 1823, his ship was wrecked near Buenos Aires, Argentina, and he decided to settle in South America. He was appointed United States consul at Guayaquil, Ecuador, in 1824. He later moved to Valparaiso, Chile, and in 1840 set up a steamship line to serve the western coast of South America. Wheelwright discovered coal and copper deposits in Chile and built one of the first railroads in South America, from the mines to the coast. He built other railroads in Chile and Argentina, and developed the port of La Plata. He also built the continent’s first telegraph line. He was born on March 16, 1798, in Newburyport, Massachusetts. He died on Sept. 26, 1873.
