James Edward Tuit
James Edward Tuit (1860-1906)
1906 Obituary [1]
On Tuesday, the 20th February, suddenly, Mr. Jas. Edward Tuit, a director of Sir Wm. Arrol and Co., Limited, died. He was but 46 years old, having been born on the 2nd January, 1860....[more]
1906 Obituary [2]
JAMES EDWARD TUIT, born on the 2nd January, 1860, was educated at King’s College, London, and received his practical training under the late Mr. Edmund Olander, in the engineering department of the Great Western Railway, where he developed marked ability in constructional design.
In 1882 he joined the staff of the late Sir John Fowler and Sir Benjamin Baker, Past-Presidents, who were then engaged on the designs of the Forth Bridge.
For 2 years Mr. Tuit was occupied on the details of these designs and in 1884, when the work of construction commenced, he was appointed by the contractors an assistant engineer at Queensferry, and was responsible for carrying out the temporary works required in the erection of the bridge. He remained at the works until their completion in 1889, when he came to London to take sole charge of the erection of the Tower Bridge for Sir William Arrol and Company, the contractors.
During the construction of this great work, Mr. Tuit found full scope for the exercise of his talent and ingenuity in dealing with the numerous problems which arose in the course of its erection. Upon the completion of the Tower Bridge, Mr. Tuit became responsible for the designing work for Sir William Arrol and Company, and took charge of their London office. Bringing to his task exceptional constructional ability and a keen mathematical mind, the designs which he evolved were of sound practical value, combining strength and lightness of proportion with considerable grace of form.
The last important design upon which he was engaged, but which he was not destined to see completed, was that for a bridge across the Nile at Cairo, with two smaller bridges connecting the mainland with an island in the river. The Egyptian Government invited competitive designs, and that submitted by Mr. Tuit was accepted, not only because it harmonized, from an asthetic point of view, with the architectural and scenic features of the surroundings, but because it met the severe limitations involved, and gave assurance that the difficulties in regard to foundations had been carefully considered and would be successfully overcome.
Mr. Tuit was subject to severe dysentery and had been for some time in indifferent health. Latterly his condition had improved, but whilst at his office he suddenly became seriously ill, and being removed to his home, he died the next day, the 20th February, 1906, at the comparatively early age of 46.
He was elected an Associate Member of the Institution on the 1st December, 1885, and wa3 transferred to the class of Members on the 23rd January, 1894.
1906 Obituary [3]