Charles McDermid
Charles McDermid (c1868-1952), secretary of the Institution of Mining and Metallurgy
1952 Obituary [1]
There are many engineers who recall Mr. Charles McDermid's long years of service as secretary of the Institution of Mining and Metallurgy, and of the Institution of Mining Engineers. We have learned with regret of his death which occurred at the age of eighty-four on May 7th, at Bexhill-on-Sea.
Charles McDermid was born in Darlington, and as a young man served as assistant private secretary to the late Sir David Dale, who was chairman of the old North-Eastern Railway company.
Subsequently, for a time, he was assistant secretary of the Iron and Steel Institute. Mr. McDermid became secretary of the Institution of Mining and Metallurgy in 1900 and held that office until his retirement in 1939. For several years from 1920 to 1939, in fact he was also secretary of the Institution of Mining Engineers.
As a fitting acknowledgment of the services which he rendered to those bodies, both Institutions, just prior to his retirement, conferred upon him the distinction of honorary membership.
During his long period as secretary of these two Institutions, Mr. McDermid did much to promote full collaboration between mining institutions throughout the Empire. He took a leading part in the organisation of the first Empire Mining and Metallurgical Congress, which was held in London in 1924.
It was followed by the establishment of the Empire Council of Mining and Metallurgical Institutions, of which he was honorary secretary for many years.
Mr. McDermid was an honorary member of the American Institute of Mining and Metallurgical Engineers, honorary corresponding member of the Canadian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy, and a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Secretaries. He was also, from 1931 to 1947, a member of the Governing Body of the Imperial College of Science and Technology.