Hansom, Joseph Aloysius (1803-1882), an English inventor and architect, developed the Patent Safety Cab, commonly called the hansom cab, in 1834. The hansom cab, a two-wheeled, horse-drawn carriage that people could hire, quickly became popular as a means of transportation.
Hansom was also a noted architect. Buildings of Hansom’s design are scattered throughout the United Kingdom, and some were even built in Australia and South America. They include Birmingham Town Hall, in the West Midlands of England.
Hansom was born on Oct. 26, 1803, in York, England. He died on June 29, 1882.
