Robert Rankin
Robert Rankin (1884-1921) B.Sc. (Eng.), Electrical Engineer, Expert in accumulator and storage battery plant and their application.
1884 Born.
Educated at The High School, Stranraer; Royal Technical College, Glasgow; University of Glasgow
Apprenticeship with Mavor and Coulson, Ltd., Glasgow.
Lecturer in Electrical Engineering, The Technical School, Coatbridge
Demonstrator and Assistant Lecturer in Royal Technical College
Engineer with Chloride Electrical Storage Co., Ltd., Manchester
Chief Engineer and Works Manager, Electrical Power Storage Co., Ltd., London
Managing Director of Van Raden and Co., Ltd., Great Heath, Coventry.
1921 Obituary [1]
ROBERT RANKIN was born in 1885 at Cairnbrock, Ayrshire, the son of James Rankin, farmer, and obtained his early education locally. After two years at the High School, Stranraer, he entered the Royal Technical College, Glasgow, and in 1906 went to Glasgow University.
He served his apprenticeship with Messrs. Mavor and Coulson.
In 1908 he obtained his D.Sc. in engineering science with special distinction, and in addition he received from the Glasgow University its certificate of proficiency in engineering science. He also received in 1906 the diploma of the Royal Technical College, Glasgow. For some time he was lecturer in electrical engineering at the Technical College, Coatbridge, and later was assistant lecturer at the Royal Technical College, Glasgow.
In June, 1909, he joined the staff of the Chloride Electrical Storage Company, and in 1912 became chief engineer to the Electrical Power Storage Co., Ltd.
In 1916 he purchased the business of Messrs. Van Raden and Co., Ltd., at Coventry, and it was to this business that he was devoting his energies at the time of his death.
In 1919 he was appointed Chairman of the new Committee constituted by the Council to organize the Informal Meetings Section, and it is largely to his initiative and ingenuity that its success is due.
A man of strong conviction and indomitable pluck, he was always ready to face the consequences of the forcible expression of his views. He was possessed of a keen sense of humour, and his ready wit, sometimes tinged with acid sarcasm, was welcomed no less by his opponents than by his friends. Time and opportunity had not served to enable him to reach a great position in the profession he had chosen, yet his death leaves in the minds of his friends and acquaintances the impression of an unfulfilled destiny. Some years ago he contracted valvular disease of the heart as a result of acute rheumatism, and eventually succumbed to that ailment on 17th February, 1921.
He was elected an Associate Member of the Institution in 1910, and a Member in 1915.