John Greenwood (born 1788, died 1851), transport entrepreneur, was the keeper of a toll-gate inPendleton on theManchester to Liverpoolturnpike.^{[citation needed]} In 1824 he purchased a horse and a cart with several seats and began anomnibus service, probably the first one in theUnited Kingdom, between Pendleton and Manchester.^{[citation needed]} His pioneering idea was to offer a service where, unlike with astagecoach, no prior booking was necessary and the driver would pick up or set down passengers anywhere on request. Later on he added daily services toBuxton,Chester, andSheffield.

John Greenwood, and a number of competitors, created a network of omnibus services, often acting as feeders to the railways. When he died in 1851 he left a flourishing business to his son, also named John (II) (b. 12 May 1818, d. 21 March 1886), which in that year became the Manchester Carriage Company.

By gestation, and amalgamation, in 1880, this became theManchester Carriage and Tramways Company, led by John Greenwood (II). Following the council taking control of passenger transport services, in 1903, the residuary operations becameThe Manchester Carriage Co. (1903) Ltd, led by John Greenwood (III) (b. 1856).^[1]

For how this initial service developed, seeTimeline of public passenger transport operations in Manchester.

• Hulme, Charles (1991).Rails of Manchester. Manchester: John Rylands University Library.

• Greater Manchester's Museum of Transport
• Manchester Tramway Museum Society

• 1788 births
• 1851 deaths
• 19th-century English businesspeople
• People in bus transport

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