Professor William Thomas Rowden (1839-1924), B.Sc
1839 Born in Christchurch, Hants[1]
1871 William T Rowden 31, teacher of science, lived in Newcastle upon Tyne with Mary A Rowden 29, Elizabeth B Rowden 7, William C Rowden 5, Edmund P Rowden 2, Edmund Rowden 1 months[2]
1897-1903 Gained 6 patents on ignition engines, lubricators, etc
1901 William T Rowden 61, Professor of Applied Mechanics, lived in Row, Dumbartonshire with Bertha E Rowden 35, Grace M Rowden 24[3]
1902 "To mark the completion of his twenty-five years' occupancy of the chair of applied mechanics in Anderson's College and the Glasgow and West of Scotland Technical College, Professor W. T. Rowden, B.Sc. (Lond.), A.R.S.M., was entertained to dinner by a number of his former students in St. Enoch Station Hotel, Glasgow, on the 12th inst., Mr. E. Hall Brown presiding. Warm tribute was paid by a number of speakers to Professor Rowden's abilities and he was presented with a split seconds chonograph watch, chain, and appendage. In acknowledging the gift, Professor Rowden observed that he never aimed at popularity. He had his own ideas of what was right, and he went for them inspite of everybody and everything. He never thought about the Science and Art Department; he made up his mind that a certain line was proper, and he followed that line to the best of his ability. As to the compliment they had paid him, he humorously remarked that if they still retained any kindly feelings for him after the "hammerings" he must have given them, they must be made of deuced good metal. He was glad they appreciated his method of teaching. To develop the qualities in pupils was, in his opinion, the function of education. From the beginning he made up his mind that if progress was to be made the students must work themselves. The less he did himself and the more he made them do the better for them. He characterised it as nonsense for students to go to popular lectures and fine experiments, and sit gaping at them without attempting to do anything themselves. The Professor recalled that he had occupied his present position since 1876, but he was nearer his Jubilee than his semi-Jubilee as a teacher of mechanics. In 1859 he formed classes for engineering students at Bristol. Since 1861 up to the present time there had never been a year in which he had not been teaching evening classes for engineers."
1924 Died in Exmouth[4]