William Henry Cochrane
William Henry Cochrane (1882-1935), managing director of the Planters Engineering Co
1935 Obituary [1]
WILLIAM HENRY COCHRANE had been managing director of the Planters' Engineering Company, Ltd., since 1912, with the exception of the period 1914-19 when he served in France and England as officer in charge of mechanical transport workshops.
He was born at Birkenhead in 1882 and was educated at Clifton College. He received his technical education at the University of Liverpool and University College, London.
In 1899 he commenced a four years' apprenticeship in Messrs. Gwynne's works at Hammersmith. From 1903 to 1906 he was engaged on the erection of electric power and light stations in Hammersmith, Loughborough, and Deptford.
Mr. Cochrane then took up the design of rubber factories and of the associated machinery, and was so engaged at the time when the Planters' Engineering Company was formed; he was appointed managing director from its inception. He was responsible for the equipment of an extremely large number of rubber plantations in the Federated Malay States, Java, and Sumatra.
In addition, he was associated with Messrs. Entwistle and Gass, engineers, of Bolton.
He was elected an Associate Member of the Institution in 1920 and was transferred to Membership in 1931.
His death occurred on 12th May 1935.