John Armstrong Snowdon
John Armstrong Snowdon (1842-1924)
1924 Obituary [1]
JOHN ARMSTRONG SNOWDON, J.P., was born at Carlisle on 6th June 1842, and died at Scarborough on 26th May 1924, in his eighty-second year.
Having served an apprenticeship with Messrs. Cowans and Sheldon, of his native place, he went to Palmer's Shipbuilding Works for a time, and then was transferred to Chatham Dockyard, where he was employed for twenty-three years.
Mr. Snowdon was next engaged by Sir Hiram Maxim, who required a man with an inventive brain to help him to perfect his gun.
On completing this work he was appointed Managing Director of Messrs. John Rogerson and Co.'s Steelworks at Wolsingham, and held this position until his retirement in 1909.
While at Chatham he brought out several inventions, among which may be noted the construction of apparatus for working watertight doors. He also patented a screw-cutting machine.
He was a Justice of the Peace for the County of Durham, Chairman of the Weardale Board of Guardians for twenty years, and held other local positions.
He became a Member of this Institution in 1885.