William Charles Melville
William Charles Melville (1856-1908)
1908 Obituary [1]
WILLIAM CHARLES MELVILLE was born in Liverpool on 27th June 1856, being the son of Mr. Samuel Melville, superintendent engineer of the Liverpool Steam Tug Co.
On the completion of his education at the Liverpool Institute, he served his time as apprentice with Messrs. Fawcett, Preston and Co., of Liverpool, and afterwards entered the service of the Liverpool Steam Tug Co. as engineer until the death of his father in 1888, when he succeeded him as superintendent engineer.
In 1907 he became a member of the firm of Messrs. Hicks, Melville and Co., of Liverpool, marine surveyors and consulting engineers.
He was associated with many notable inventions, of which may be mentioned his metallic tube stoppers, and a patent pontoon and crane for wreck-raising purposes, which were described in Papers read before the Institution of Naval Architects and the British Association Meeting in Liverpool.
His death took place after an illness of some weeks' duration on 1st November 1908, at the age of fifty-two.
He became a Member of this Institution in 1891; and he was also a Member of the Institution of Naval Architects.