John Doherty

John Doherty (c1834-1903)

1872 Elected IEE.

1891 of Postal Telegraphs, Manchester

1903 Died. 'A striking career of public usefulness is brought to a close by the death of Mr. John Doherty, late superintending engineer of the north-western district of the post-office telegraphs, which took place at his residence, Oak Leigh, Stretford, on Monday. He had reached the age of sixty-nine years. Mr. Doherty’s telegraphic service began as far back as 1852, when the Syndicate was engaged in constructing an underground system of telegraphs between Manchester and Liverpool. The establishment of this syndicate, afterwards known as the Magnetic Telegraph Company, was opened the same year for public working, the Manchester offices being in the old Exchange Arcade. The company soon began to extend its area, and in combination with the British Submarine Company became a formidable rival to the Electric and International Company, and was known as the British and Irish Company. After Manchester came experiences in America, and then returning to India, Mr. Doherty was employed by Messrs. Newall, Liddell, and Gordon, who had secured the contract for a complete installation of a submarine and land telegraph service between this country and India. For this the Red Sea Telegraph Company was formed, and Mr. Doherty was sent to Birkenhead, where the Red Sea portion of the cable was being manufactured. Before the work was completed he was despatched with construction party to Egypt to erect the land line between Alexandria and Cairo to Suez. This ended his foreign experience, and in August, 1860, he became associated with the United Kingdom's Telegraph company's service, in which capacity he came to Manchester for the purpose of constructing and equipping the various offices in the district. On the transfer of all the telegraphs to the State in the early part of 1870 Mr. Doherty was appointed engineering superintendent of the Manchester district, which placed him in charge of all the engineering works in connection with the lines west of Stoke as far as Chester, and including Liverpool. Eight years later the service was reorganized, and Mr. Doherty became superintending engineer of the entire north-western district, retaining the position until his retirement, four years ago on reaching the age limit of sixty-five during his term of office the great work of transferring all the machinery and apparatus of the Manchester head office from York street to the new Post Office in Spring Gardens was successfully accomplished. Mr. H. Haskayne, the present superintending engineer, was appointed to the position in succession to Mr. Doherty.'

See Also

Loading...