Wilfred Daniel Bailey
Wilfred Daniel Bailey (1867-1901)
1867 Born the son of John Bailey
1902 Obituary [1]
WILFRED DANIEL BAILEY was born at Silvertown on 15th February 1867.
He served an apprenticeship from 1882 to 1887 as a mechanical engineer in the India-Rubber Gutta-Percha and Telegraph Works at Silvertown, where his father had been resident manager for many years, and went through the drawing office, pattern-makers' and moulding shops, turning, fitting, and erecting shops. On its completion he was employed for five months as draughtsman in the same works.
In May 1888 he went to Buenos Aires as assistant in the branch works of the firm, and was also engaged in general engineering work, and in the installation of all kinds of machinery.
In 1897 he entered into partnership with Mr. L. Walker as electrical and general engineers, the title of the firm being Bailey, Walker and Co. They soon acquired a leading position in business, and there was every prospect of a successful future, when his partner's death occurred. This was followed shortly afterwards by his own death taking place from typhoid fever, after three weeks' illness, at Belgrano, Buenos Aires, on the 1st December 1901, in his thirty-fifth year.
He because a Graduate of this Institution in 1888, and was transferred to full membership in 1900.
1902 Obituary [2]
WILFRED DANIEL BAILEY was the fourth son of Mr. John Bailey, who began his connection with Messrs. Silver & Co. in 1848, and, as Resident Manager of the Silvertown Works for over forty years, has been intimately associated with their growth from very small beginnings to their present vast manufacturing output.
Young Wilfred D. Bailey, after leaving school, served five years' apprenticeship in the engineering shops at Silvertown, and qualified himself in the various branches of engineering.
In 1888 he went out to Buenos Ayres as assistant at the India Rubber Company's branch in that town. The post afforded him scope for turning his engineering education to account, and also gave him an opportunity for acquiring a thorough knowledge of business.
He served seven years in this position, and then, in 1895, set up on his own account in conjunction with Mr. L. Walker as Electrical and General Engineers, under the style of Bailey, Walker & Co. His early engineering training at Silvertown, combined with the business experience gained in the Company's agency, were now of great service to him, and the firm soon acquired a leading position in its particular branch of industry. There was every prospect of a highly successful future when, following shortly after his partner's death, Mr. Bailey himself contracted typhoid fever, and after three weeks' illness, though considered convalescent, suffered a relapse and died.
At the time of his death at Buenos Ayres on the 1st of December, 1901, Mr. Bailey had only reached the age of thirty-four, and the popularity of his genial and kindly character was attested by the number of friends - close upon two hundred - who assembled at his funeral, and by whom his loss will be deeply felt. The deceased leaves a widow, but there was no issue by the marriage. Mr. Bailey was elected an Associate of the Institution on the 12th of January, 1888, and was transferred to the class of Members on the 28th of May, 1896.