George Roberts Cowen (1817-1907)
of G. R. Cowen and Co, Beck Foundry, Brook Street, Nottingham ; and 9 Rope Walk Street, Nottingham.
1841 Robert Cowen 47, iron founder, lived in Coalport Lane, Nottingham with Rebeca Cowen 45, George Cowen 23, William Cowen 6, Ellin Cowen 3[1]
1866 Married Ann Guilford in Nottingham; Ann's brother was later taken into partnership
1881 George R. Cowen 63, ironsmith, (indistinct), boiler maker, master employing 150 hands, lived in Nottingham with Ann Cowen 49, Edward S. Cowen 30, master ironfounder, George Cowen 27, master ironfounder, Ellen M. Cowen 23[2]
1900 of 22, Hound Road, West Bridgford, Notts
1907 Obituary [3]
GEORGE ROBERTS COWEN was born at Sheffield on 18th December 1817, being the eldest son of Mr. Robert Cowen who removed to Nottingham in the following year.
He was educated at the Nottingham Grammar School, and, after serving his apprenticeship at the Beck Works, Nottingham, founded by his father in 1822, he spent some time in Leicester as foreman at Mr. B. Cort's Foundry.
In 1844 he joined his father in partnership, and, when the latter retired in 1858, he carried on the business alone until 1869, when he took into partnership his brother-in-law, Mr. F. L. Guilford, who died in 1894.
Mr. Cowen retired from the business in 1882, his two sons having entered the firm previously.
Having been engaged in a general engineering, ironfounding, and boiler-snaking business for so many years, he had acquired an extensive knowledge of its various branches, and was especially experienced in steam-power installations, of which he erected a large number in Nottingham and the surrounding district. He was one of the earliest experimenters in the manufacture of hollow fire-bars for steam-boilers, and of machinery connected with the pressing of lace and hosiery.
His death took place at his residence in Nottingham on 11th May 1907, at the age of eighty-nine.
He became a Member of this Institution in 1870, and resigned in 1888. Ten years later he resumed his Membership.
See Also
Sources of Information
- ↑ 1841 census
- ↑ 1881 census
- ↑ 1907 Institution of Mechanical Engineers: Obituaries