Elijah J. McCoy (May 2, 1844 [A ] – October 10, 1929) was a Canadian-American engineer of African-American descent who invented lubrication systems for steam engines.
The serial contains many references to the history of the show, featuring settings from the first Doctor Who episode, An Unearthly Child, such as Coal Hill School and the junkyard at 76 Totter's Lane.