There were one or two of this design in the early years - locos with the large driving wheels were sometimes referred to as 'spinners'.
As well as the GN Stirling single, I am aware that the Midland Railway had a single design, as did the Caledonian Railway.
We also need to remember the basic differences in locomotive design and development in the UK vs USA. In the UK, each railway company would have its Chief Mechanical Engineer who was responsible for the design of locomotives, and while they might 'borrow' design concepts, the locos would be individual to each railway company.
In the USA, locomotives were designed and built by independent companies, often with the result that locos would be 'catalogue' locos, with the same design, or adapted design, being used by different railroads.
So, the three spinners would have been designed by three different engineers.
I think the GW broad gauge may have had something similar in concept