  Robert Stirling's patent for what was essentially a new type of engine to
create work from heat was submitted in 1816. Its reception was underwhelming
and although the idea was sporadically developed, it was eclipsed by the steam
engine and, later, the internal combustion engine. Today, though, the
environmentally favourable credentials of the Stirling engine principles are
driving a resurgence of interest, with modern designs using modern materials.
These themes are woven through a historically based narrative that introduces
Robert Stirling and his background, a description of his patent and the
principles behind his engine, and discusses the now popular model Stirling
engines readily available. These topical models, or alternatives made 'in
house', form a good platform for investigating some of the thermodynamics
governing the performance of engines in general.
