John Henry Parker
John Henry Parker (1863-1926)
1926 Obituary [1]
JOHN HENRY PARKER was born at Ferryhill, Durham, on 18th December 1863.
He received his education at Durham School and later at Bath House School, Hartlepool.
His apprenticeship was served with Messrs. Thom. Richardson and Sons, Hartlepool, during the years 1879-1884, and on completion he spent a further year with that firm, as draughtsman.
Sea life then attracted him and he spent four years as a junior engineer on the Horsley line of steamers, this being followed by further experience in a similar capacity with the Furness line. He obtained the Extra Chief Engineer's Certificate of the Board of Trade and spent the years 1890-97 as chief engineer of various cargo vessels.
He was then appointed chief of engineering departments with Messrs. Furness, Withy and Co., Ltd., at their Middleton Shipyard, West Hartlepool, and in this position he remained for nearly nine years, the connexion being broken in 1906 when he became chief steel-works engineer with the Frodingham Iron and Steel Co., Ltd., Scunthorpe.
About nine years later, in 1917, he transferred his services to the Redbourn Hill Iron and Coal Co., Ltd., in the same district, and this position he held until 1922, when he started in business in Wellingborough and Scunthorpe on his own account as a consulting engineer and merchant.
His experience in the Lincolnshire iron industry led him to give special attention to the gases for coke-ovens and blast-furnaces, and to patent burners for their efficient utilization.
Mr. Parker died at Scunthorpe on 16th January 1926.
He became a Member of this Institution in 1905.