Wellesley Curram Clinton

Professor Wellesley Curram Clinton (c1872-1934), Pender Chair of Electrical Engineering at University College, London

For 33 years assistant to Ambrose Fleming

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1934 Obituary

A WIDE circle of electrical engineers will learn with regret of the death of Professor W. C. Clinton, B.Sc., M.I.E.E., holder of the Pender Chair of Electrical Engineering at University College, London.

For over forty years Professor Clinton was engaged in teaching work at University College. He was an associate and assistant of Professor Sir Ambrose Fleming, F.R.S., during the whole time he was engaged on the investigations and research work which led to the practical application of the thermionic valve for wireless transmission and other scientific work. Generations of electrical engineering students who are now engaged in different parts of the world owe much to the thoroughness and care which were characteristic of Professor Clinton's teaching work.

He was trained at Finsbury Technical College under Professors Ayrton and Perry, and in 1893 began his work at University College a demonstrator. For thirty-three years he was assistant to Professor Fleming and in 1926 he succeeded him in the Chair of Electrical Engineering.

During the war Mr. Clinton carried out important work at Stonebridge Park on the measurement of illumination produced by shell flares and Verey lights, on which he worked with Mr. A. P. Trotter, Colonel Edgecumbe, and Professor MacGregor Morris.

He took his degree in 1899 with first-class honours and in 1906 he was appointed Assistant Professor.

In 1920 he was elected a Fellow of University College, in 1933 a Fellow of the City and Guilds of London Institute, Sub-Dean of the Faculty of Engineering in 1919, and Dean of the Faculty in 1934, an honour which he did not live to assume.

He was a valued member of the Institution of Electrical Engineers and a contributor to many other scientific institutions.

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