William Henry Wilson
William Henry Wilson (1850-1902)
1903 Obituary [1]
WILLIAM HENRY WILSON was born in Manchester on 27th April 1850, and was a son of the late Mr. George Wilson, chairman of the Anti-Corn Law League.
He was educated at a private school in Manchester, and afterwards attended the engineering classes at Owens College.
In 1867 he was apprenticed to the firm of Messrs. Wren and Hopkinson, engineers, of Manchester, and on its completion in 1874 he became assistant manager at the works of Messrs. James Dodge and Co., of Newton Heath.
In 1876 he was appointed assistant manager to the Phoenix Engineering Co., of Ghent, Belgium, remaining in that position until 1881, during which time he designed several important improvements in flax-spinning machinery.
Owing to ill-health, he was compelled to return to England; and then became manager to Messrs. W. F. Mason, engineers, of Manchester. On the business being converted into a company he was elected a director.
He was closely connected with the large improvements made by the firm in gas producers, destructors, bakers' machinery, &c.
In 1899 he started in business for himself as engineer and ironfounder, but was unable to devote his time to it on account of ill-health.
His death took place on 26th December 1902, in his fifty-third year.
He became a Member of this Institution in 1897.