Alan Archibald Campbell Swinton: Difference between revisions
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Alan Archibald Campbell Swinton ( | Alan Archibald Campbell Swinton (1863-1930), electrical engineer | ||
1863 born in Edinburgh, on 18 October, the third son of Archibald Campbell Swinton, professor of civil law in the University of Edinburgh, and his wife, Georgiana Caroline (nee Sitwell) | 1863 born in Edinburgh, on 18 October, the third son of Archibald Campbell Swinton, professor of civil law in the University of Edinburgh, and his wife, Georgiana Caroline (nee Sitwell) | ||
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1930 Died in London | 1930 Died in London | ||
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'''1930 Obituary <ref> [[1930 Institution of Mechanical Engineers: Obituaries]] </ref> | |||
ALAN ARCHIBALD CAMPBELL SWINTON commenced to practise as a consulting engineer in London at the early age of 24, in 1887, and since then distinguished himself by his scientific researches, especially in radiology and wireless. | |||
He was trained in the [[W. G. Armstrong and Co|Armstrong works at Elswick]] from 1882 to 1887, and throughout his career was closely associated with the industrial side of engineering. | |||
At an early date he became chairman of [[Crompton and Co|Messrs. Crompton and Company]] and he was a member of the original syndicate, which, in 1894, financed the experimental vessel "[[Turbinia]]," subsequently becoming a director, from its inception, of the [[Parsons Marine Steam Turbine Co|Parsons Marine Steam Turbine Company]]. | |||
Mr. Campbell Swinton was one of the first in this country to experiment with X-rays and to make them available for medical and surgical purposes. In the field of wireless telegraphy he devised, in 1914, an ingenious method of recording signals and at an early date he installed a wireless telephone between his office in Victoria Street and his house in Chester Square. | |||
Mr. Campbell Swinton became a Member of the Institution in 1910, and he was also a Member of the Institutions of Civil and Electrical Engineers. He was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society in 1915. He was chairman of the British Scientific Instrument Research Association and a member of the general board of the National Physical Laboratory, as well as being prominently associated with many other scientific bodies. | |||
He died at the age of 66, on 19th February 1930. | |||
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==See Also== | ==See Also== | ||
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{{DEFAULTSORT: Swinton, A }} | {{DEFAULTSORT: Swinton, A }} | ||
[[Category: Biography ]] | [[Category: Biography ]] | ||
[[Category: Births 1860-1869]] | |||
[[Category: Deaths 1930-1939]] | |||
[[Category: Institution of Mechanical Engineers]] | |||
Revision as of 06:31, 8 April 2014
Alan Archibald Campbell Swinton (1863-1930), electrical engineer
1863 born in Edinburgh, on 18 October, the third son of Archibald Campbell Swinton, professor of civil law in the University of Edinburgh, and his wife, Georgiana Caroline (nee Sitwell)
1878 Attended Fettes College, Edinburgh.
1881 went to Le Havre to study French and mathematics, and visited the Paris Exhibition, where he was deeply impressed by the electrical inventions seen there.
1882 Started apprenticeship in Armstrong's engineering works at Elswick-on-Tyne.
1883 Published a book, "The Principles and Practice of Electric Lighting". Introduced lead-covered wires and cables for electric wiring in ships.
1887 Moved to London and set up as an electrical contractor and consulting engineer. Carried out electric lighting installations in many country houses, and was connected with several of the earliest electric supply companies (especially those which employed steam turbines) including the Scarborough Electric Supply Co and the Cambridge Electric Supply Co, of which he became managing director.
Became chairman of Crompton and Co
1896 Took first photograph produced by X-rays in England, within a month of the announcement of Röntgen's discovery, and continued to work with X-rays.
1896 Introduced Guglielmo Marconi to William Henry Preece, engineer-in-chief of the Post Office, which led to deployment of radio telegraphy
Assisted Charles Parsons with the early development of the steam turbine and with the construction of the turbine ship Turbinia; he was a director of Parsons's company.
1904 ended the contracting part of the business.
1908 Published his ideas for the use of cathode ray tubes to transmit and display pictures.
Post WWI: Advised BBC engineers against using John Logie Baird's television system
1930 Died in London
1930 Obituary [1]
ALAN ARCHIBALD CAMPBELL SWINTON commenced to practise as a consulting engineer in London at the early age of 24, in 1887, and since then distinguished himself by his scientific researches, especially in radiology and wireless.
He was trained in the Armstrong works at Elswick from 1882 to 1887, and throughout his career was closely associated with the industrial side of engineering.
At an early date he became chairman of Messrs. Crompton and Company and he was a member of the original syndicate, which, in 1894, financed the experimental vessel "Turbinia," subsequently becoming a director, from its inception, of the Parsons Marine Steam Turbine Company.
Mr. Campbell Swinton was one of the first in this country to experiment with X-rays and to make them available for medical and surgical purposes. In the field of wireless telegraphy he devised, in 1914, an ingenious method of recording signals and at an early date he installed a wireless telephone between his office in Victoria Street and his house in Chester Square.
Mr. Campbell Swinton became a Member of the Institution in 1910, and he was also a Member of the Institutions of Civil and Electrical Engineers. He was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society in 1915. He was chairman of the British Scientific Instrument Research Association and a member of the general board of the National Physical Laboratory, as well as being prominently associated with many other scientific bodies.
He died at the age of 66, on 19th February 1930.
See Also
Sources of Information
- Biography, ODNB