William Alexander McLaren
William Alexander McLaren (1862-1924)
1924 Obituary [1]
WILLIAM ALEXANDER MCLAREN was born in 1862, and was educated at private schools in Sunderland.
He served his apprenticeship, from 1877 to 1882, with Mr. Henry McLaren, Offerton, and in the works of Messrs. J. and H. McLaren, of the Midland Engine Works, Leeds.
In 1883 he went to New Zealand, and after an engagement with Messrs. Reynolds and Hill, engineers, at Rakaia, he started business in 1885 on his own account, acting also as New Zealand representative for his old principals, Messrs. J. and H. McLaren.
He also organized and ran a large steam transport business which he subsequently transferred to the firm, Messrs. A. McLaren, Limited.
From 1897 to 1899 he was busy in Western Australia, Queensland, New South Wales, and Victoria in the interests of Messrs. J. and H. McLaren, and then, on returning to England, he was engaged by the War Office as Chief Engineer in the South African transport service.
He went out to Durban in charge of the first shipment of engines, and took an active part in their utilization in Natal and afterwards in the Kimberley district. Later on, however, a severe accident befell him near Boshof, and he was invalided home.
About 1904 he was appointed foreign representative for Messrs. John Fowler and Co. (Leeds), Ltd., and this position he held up to the date of his death, which occurred on 23rd February 1924, at the age of sixty-two.
He became a Member of this Institution in 1901.