William Allinson Dexter (1871-1939), director of the Mirrlees Watson Co
1939 Obituary [1]
"WILLIAM ALLINSON DEXTER, who was a director of the Mirrlees Watson Company, Ltd., had been actively connected with the management of the business for over 37 years.
He was born in 1871 at Bradford and educated at the Bradford Technical College from 1883 to 1889. He then served a year with Messrs. James Leeming and Son, Bradford, as an apprentice, and a further two years with Messrs. Cole, Marchent and Morley, Bradford. He was engaged as a draughtsman by Messrs. Rose, Downs and Thompson, of Hull, from 1892 to 1894, after which he returned to Messrs. Cole, Marchent and Morley, as leading draughtsman in charge of the design of Corliss engines, mill gearing, and condensing plant.
In 1899 he was appointed draughtsman in the firm of Ferranti, Ltd., a position he held until 1902 when he joined the Mirrlees Watson Company, Ltd., as manager of the condenser department. He was elected to the board of this company in 1913, and retained this position until his death, which occurred on 3rd December 1939. During his association with the Mirrlees Watson Company he took a leading part in the development and application of the Leblanc air pump and the steam ejector. He was elected a Member of the Institution in 1921."
1939 Obituary [2]