1824   On the18th June Robert sailed from Liverpool for La Guayra, in South America, to open up silver mines.  He continued his education through Dr Roullin & M. Boussingault.  In December ‘George Stephenson and Son’ was founded with Robert named as its Chief Engineer in his absence.

1827  Robert met Richard Trevithick who was also passing through Carthegena. He lent £50 to Trevithick to pay his passage to England.  Robert set sail for New York but the ship was wrecked a few hours from port with no loss of life.  In New York he inspected ‘the finest steam boats in the world’ (John Stevens the engineer) and also joined the Freemasons. He travelled inland to Niagara Falls and Montreal.  Robert arrived back at Liverpool in November. It was recorded that ‘he accomplished his mission with great credit and made some investigations and reports which exhibit great foresight and talent’.