Henry Bevis
Henry Bevis (1865-1925), managing director of Pirelli and of the Pirelli-General Cable Works
1911 Living at Clewer House, Wolsey Road, East Molesey: Henry Bevis (age 47 born London), Electrical Engineer, Director of Company, Cable and Rubber Manufacturer - Employer. With his wife Ellen and their daughter and his MIL.[1]
1925 Obituary [2]
HENRY BEVIS was born in 1865 and died on the 16th July, 1925.
In 1884 he joined Mr.(now Sir) Hugo Hirst as assistant in the Electrical Apparatus Co., Ltd.
In 1886 Mr. Hirst left the firm to join with Mr. G. Byng in forming the General Electric Co., and Mr. Bevis continued to manage the Electrical Apparatus Co.
In 1889, however, the company went into liquidation and Mr. Bevis then rejoined Mr. Hirst. He remained with him for 17 years, and in 1907 joined the firm of Pirelli, Ltd., in this country, which was then closely allied with the General Electric Co.
He later became managing director of Pirelli, Ltd., and of the Pirelli-General Cable Works, Ltd., and held that position until 2 1/2 years before his death.
He took an active part in the inception and formation of the Electrical Trades Benevolent Institution and throughout his life took the keenest interest in. its welfare. He was a firm believer in the value of the electrical exhibition and was always a popular and respected figure for his early efforts in this direction. In the early history of the General Electric Co. he made a tour round the world and also visited the Continent arid the United States very frequently. In his time he was one of the best-informed men on trade in the electrical industry both at home and abroad.
His colleagues and employees will remember him as a man of strong will and a forceful individuality in all matters of business, and they will also remember him as a staunch friend with many endearing and lovable qualities, and as a man with a big heart.
He was elected a Member of the Institution in 1901.
1925 Obituary [3]
HENRY BEVIS, who died on July 16, 1925, was one of the best-known personalities of the electrical industry in its early days.
Born in 1865, he joined Mr. (now Sir) Hugo Hirst in 1884 as assistant in the Electrical Apparatus Co., Ltd.
When, two years later, Mr. Hirst joined Mr. G. Byng - this union leading to the formation of the General Electric Co. - Mr. Bevis continued to manage the Electrical Apparatus Co. for a few years as an opposition concern, but in 1889 the company liquidated, and Mr. Bevis then rejoined Mr. Hirst.
For seventeen years the closest collaboration existed, Mr. Bevis, under Mr. Hirst's leadership, taking a lion's share in the strenuous work attaching to the early development of the G.E.C.
In the early days of the company Mr. Bevis made a tour round the world, and also visited the U.S.A. and the Continent very frequently, and was, in his time, one of the best-informed men on trade in the electrical industry both at home and abroad.
At about 1907 changes of policy of the G.E.C. decided Mr. Bevis to enter a new field for his activities, and an opportunity arose for him to join the Pirelli enterprise in this country, which was then closely allied with the G.E.C., and for many years he acted as their managing director, playing a most prominent part in making its success.
In 1908, being particularly interested in copper for electrical work, he joined the Institute of Metals as an Original Member, and was a keen and regular attendant at the Institute's meetings. Unfortunately his health broke down in 1923, and he had to forgo his favourite occupation—work.
One of his old friends writes "His colleagues and those under him will remember him as a man of strong will, and a forceful individuality in all matters of business, and they will also remember him, as a staunch friend with many endearing and lovable qualities, and as a man with a big heart."