George was born about 1814, the son of George Short, a ship's carpenter and joiner of South Hylton of the Parish of Ford, County Durham.   He was the Founder of the firm of Short Brothers Ltd., of Pallion, Sunderland.   Living at Gales Yard, he no doubt spent many of his childhood days playing with his eight brothers and sisters amidst the timber and other shipbuilding accessories assembled at the Yard where he lived .

Gales of Hylton were famous shipbuilders, launching over two hundred ships.   He was apprenticed to James Johnson, a shipbuilder of Bishopwearmouth on 14 April 1830, serving a period of five years.   He became a foreman shipwright in 1840, at the yard of John Watson of Pallion.   Near the yard of Watson was a small public house called "Ship Launch Inn", about twenty yards from the riverside.   Joseph Simpson it's owner, was a shipwright, and in addition a friend of George Short.   This friendship developed into a partnership, and shipbuilding commenced under the firm name of, "Simpson and Short".   The partnership was not to last long, and each went their own way.   George, due to his training became a successful shipbuilder.   In the first year he laid down two ships, launching them in 1851.   These were the barques" Defiance" and "Kate."   This yard was described as Mowbray Quay.

Margaret Ann	Born abt 1840		Bishopwearmouth	Died 1840
George	Born 3 Aug 1841		Bishopwearmouth	Married Jane Gill
John Young	Born 8 Jan 1844		Bishopwearmouth	Married Mary Ada Smart
Martha	Born 24 Mar 1846		Bishopwearmouth	Married John Greenwell
Maria	Born 29 Mar 1849		Bishopwearmouth	Died 16 Apr 1861, Age 12
Thomas	Born 23 Oct 1851		Bishopwearmouth	Married Barbara Jane Miller
Margaret	Born 2 Nov 1853		Bishopwearmouth	Married John Storey Barwick
Mary Ann	Born 13 Nov 1855		Bishopwearmouth
Joseph	Born abt 1858		Bishopwearmouth	Married Dorothy Thompson Tully