"In the early 1870's, bicycles and tricycles using wire wheels made their appearance, notably in England. of was one of the pioneers in this field, and.... fathered many new and ingenious features pertaining to cycling. ...English pioneer ...H. J. Lawson... built an experimental rear-chain-driven safety bicycle during this period."
January 1, 1970
https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Catalog_of_the_Cycle_Collection_(Smithsonian_Bulletin_204)