Short answers, pulled from the story.
Derby received city status on the 7th of June 1977 when Queen Elizabeth II granted the charter scroll. The Queen presented letters patent personally on the 28th of July 1977 to Mayor Councillor Jeffrey Tillet.
John Lombe built the first water-powered silk mill in Britain at Derby in 1717. George Sorocold designed the engineering systems that powered this early factory before Lombe died in 1722.
Viking settlers named the place Derbi meaning village of the deer while the River Derwent flowed through the valley thick with oaks influencing the name evolution from Derventio to Derby.
In December 1947 the Locomotive Works unveiled Number 10000 which was Britain's first mainline passenger diesel-electric locomotive. Production switched completely to diesel locomotives by 1958 following this innovation.
Jedediah Strutt patented the Derby Rib Attachment machine in January 1759. This device revolutionized hose manufacturing when used alongside Lee's Framework Knitting Machine.