James Denis McCormick
James Denis McCormick (1870-1935)
1935 Obituary [1]
JAMES DENIS McCORMICK was a member of the staff of the chief engineer for docks of the London and North Eastern Railway.
He was born in Hull in 1870 and received his technical education privately. He served his apprenticeship with the Hull Dock Company and in 1898 he took charge of the refrigeration stores of the North Eastern Railway, which had a capacity of 550,000 cu. ft.
From 1901 to 1906 he was engaged on constructional and maintenance work for the docks, and supervised the erection of two 40-ton coal hoists and a 30-ton coaling crane. He also supervised the refrigerating plant at the cattle depot, and took charge of the construction of two large steam dredgers for the railway company.
In 1910 he became inspector of all materials, machinery, and general constructional work to the Hull Joint Dock Committee, and a few years later he was appointed chief inspector. During his work as inspector he became keenly interested in metallurgical processes, and in the geology of the rocks from which the supplies of granite, sand, and gravel were drawn. In order to acquire first-hand knowledge of furnace and foundry materials, he worked in a steel foundry for a time. He studied refractory materials extensively and was elected a Fellow of the Geological Society of London in 1921.
During the War Mr. McCormick was engaged upon work of national importance in connexion with the exploitation of sand deposits, and the examination of limestone, ganister, and similar deposits for metallurgical purposes; and his advice was frequently sought when difficulties with foundry sands were encountered.
He returned to his former position after the War and supervised the construction of new dock gates at Tyne Dock and at the Humber and Alexandra Docks, Hull. He also carried out alterations to Immingham Dock gates and superintended the building of two notable dredgers, the Telford and the Oliver Bury, for work on the docks.
Mr. McCormick was elected to Associate Membership of the Institution in 1913 and was transferred to Membership in 1916.
His death occurred on 22nd July 1935.