Born in London, England ca.1797, George Shillibeer was a Coachbuilder who set up a business in Paris, France; where he was commissioned to Build some buses of "novel design". Whilst in Paris Shillibeer concluded that operating similar vehicles in London would be a paying enterprise so he returned to his native City. His first "Omnibus" took up service on July 4 1829 on the route between Paddington,The Yorkshire Stingo and the Bank via the newly built "New Road" now known as Marylebone Rd, Somers Town and the City Rd. Four services were provided in each direction daily. This service was described in the first advertisements as being "upon the Parisian mode" and that " a person of great respectabilty attended his vehicle as Conductor". An account of the new service was given in the Morning Post of July 7 1829, "Saturday the new vehicle, called the Omnibus, commenced running from Paddington to the City, and excited considerable notice, both from the novel form of the carriage, and the elegance with which it is fitted out. It is capable of accommodating 16 or 18 persons, all inside, and we apprehend it would be almost impossible to make it overturn, owing to the great width of the carriage. It was drawn by three beautiful bays abreast, after the French fashion. The Omnibus is a handsome machine, in the shape of a van. The width the horses occupy will render the vehicle rather inconvenient to be turned or driven through some of the streets of London.

George Shillibeer died in 1866 as is buried in the Church graveyard at Chigwell in Essex.

In 1979, the one hundred and fiftieth anniversary of the commencement of the first Omnibus service in London, a memorial service was held at the Chigwell Church attended by the Queen Mother.