Cecil Lewis Fortescue: Difference between revisions
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He was born in 1881 at Barnack, Northants, and was educated at Oundle and Christ's College, Cambridge, where he played a prominent part in college activities, especially on the river. A first-class honours degree in the engineering tripos was followed by practical experience in Siemens's dynamo works at Stafford, after which he was appointed to H.M.S. Vernon as Instructor to Officers at the Torpedo School and at Whale Island, and later became Professor of Physics at the Royal Naval College, Greenwich. When the 1914-18 War broke out he immediately offered his services to the Admiralty and was posted to H.M. Signal School, Portsmouth, for wireless telegraphy duties. At the end of the war he returned to Greenwich, but stayed only until 1922, when he was appointed Professor of Electrical Engineering in the University of London at Imperial College, and it was there that he found his life's work. His greatest interest lay in teaching, and many hundreds of his old students will remember with gratitude and affection the unremitting energy and attention which he gave to their work in his department. | He was born in 1881 at Barnack, Northants, and was educated at Oundle and Christ's College, Cambridge, where he played a prominent part in college activities, especially on the river. A first-class honours degree in the engineering tripos was followed by practical experience in Siemens's dynamo works at Stafford, after which he was appointed to H.M.S. Vernon as Instructor to Officers at the Torpedo School and at Whale Island, and later became Professor of Physics at the Royal Naval College, Greenwich. When the 1914-18 War broke out he immediately offered his services to the Admiralty and was posted to H.M. Signal School, Portsmouth, for wireless telegraphy duties. At the end of the war he returned to Greenwich, but stayed only until 1922, when he was appointed Professor of Electrical Engineering in the University of London at Imperial College, and it was there that he found his life's work. His greatest interest lay in teaching, and many hundreds of his old students will remember with gratitude and affection the unremitting energy and attention which he gave to their work in his department. | ||
It was not only their professional work, however, that interested Fortescue. His old love of the river drew him whenever the College crews were rowing, and it had to be a very important engagement that would keep him away from a Morphy Cup race. Athletics, the Dramatic Society and many other college activities also interested him keenly, and it can be said with truth that throughout his career he was single-minded in his efforts to promote the well-being of the students. The Deanship of the City and Guilds College—the engineering section of Imperial College—has, since the retirement of the late Prof. W. E. Dalby in 1931, been held in rotation by the Heads of the Engineering Departments, and it fell to Fortescue to occupy the position twice. It was no surprise to those who knew him that he threw himself into the manifold duties of the office with energy and enthusiasm, and no point of detail was too small for his personal attention. The many problems relating to the safety and convenience of students and staff which were thrown up by war conditions were dealt with in meticulous detail, and it was largely owing to his untiring efforts that the work of the College in those difficult days proceeded so smoothly. All this work, however, was paid for by a restriction of his research activities, and it was a matter of regret to him that so little time was left for the scientific studies that he was so eager to undertake. In spite of this, however, he was the author of a considerable number of papers and articles which were published in the Journal of The Institution of Electrical Engineers, the Journal of Scientific Instruments and other publications, and he also wrote "Wireless Telegraphy" (1912) and "The Naval Electrical Manual (1928). He contributed much in writing and discussion to the problems of professional education, and his advice and help were of the greatest value both to this Institution and to The Institution of Civil Engineers. His election as President of The Institution of Electrical Engineers came as a fitting recognition of a career devoted to raising the standards of education and to the welfare of the younger members of the profession, and was greeted with special pleasure by his academic colleagues. In 1909 he married Mary Dorothea (nee Wright), who survives him with a son and a daughter. He was made an O.B.E. for his services in the 1914-18 War. He became a Member of The Institution in 1914, and served as a member of Council 1925-28 and 1935-38, as Chairman of the Wireless Section 1926-27, as Vice-President 1938-41, and as President 1942-43. He was also a Member of The Institution of Civil Engineers. He was awarded a Wireless Section Premium in 1920 and again in 1923. | It was not only their professional work, however, that interested Fortescue. His old love of the river drew him whenever the College crews were rowing, and it had to be a very important engagement that would keep him away from a Morphy Cup race. Athletics, the Dramatic Society and many other college activities also interested him keenly, and it can be said with truth that throughout his career he was single-minded in his efforts to promote the well-being of the students. | ||
The Deanship of the City and Guilds College—the engineering section of Imperial College—has, since the retirement of the late Prof. W. E. Dalby in 1931, been held in rotation by the Heads of the Engineering Departments, and it fell to Fortescue to occupy the position twice. It was no surprise to those who knew him that he threw himself into the manifold duties of the office with energy and enthusiasm, and no point of detail was too small for his personal attention. The many problems relating to the safety and convenience of students and staff which were thrown up by war conditions were dealt with in meticulous detail, and it was largely owing to his untiring efforts that the work of the College in those difficult days proceeded so smoothly. All this work, however, was paid for by a restriction of his research activities, and it was a matter of regret to him that so little time was left for the scientific studies that he was so eager to undertake. In spite of this, however, he was the author of a considerable number of papers and articles which were published in the Journal of The Institution of Electrical Engineers, the Journal of Scientific Instruments and other publications, and he also wrote "Wireless Telegraphy" (1912) and "The Naval Electrical Manual (1928). He contributed much in writing and discussion to the problems of professional education, and his advice and help were of the greatest value both to this Institution and to The Institution of Civil Engineers. His election as President of The Institution of Electrical Engineers came as a fitting recognition of a career devoted to raising the standards of education and to the welfare of the younger members of the profession, and was greeted with special pleasure by his academic colleagues. In 1909 he married Mary Dorothea (nee Wright), who survives him with a son and a daughter. He was made an O.B.E. for his services in the 1914-18 War. He became a Member of The Institution in 1914, and served as a member of Council 1925-28 and 1935-38, as Chairman of the Wireless Section 1926-27, as Vice-President 1938-41, and as President 1942-43. He was also a Member of The Institution of Civil Engineers. He was awarded a Wireless Section Premium in 1920 and again in 1923. | |||
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Revision as of 12:01, 28 June 2016
Cecil Lewis Fortescue (1881-1949), Professor of Electrical Engineering, City and Guilds College, London.
1949 Obituary.[1]
PROFESSOR CECIL LEWIS FORTESCUE, O.B.E., M.A., Emeritus Professor of Electrical Engineering both of the University of London and of the Imperial College of Science and Technology, and a Past President of The Institution, died on the 22nd September, 1949, at his home at Keyhaven, Hants, where he had lived since his retirement only three years ago. His death came as a great shock to old colleagues and students alike; he appeared to be as energetic and active as ever when he retired, and it seemed likely that he would enjoy many years of happiness in quiet work and in the pursuits of sailing and gardening, which he loved so much. The impression of undimmed energy was strengthened by the fact that he continued teaching on a part-time basis at University College, Southampton, where his experience and skill were greatly appreciated.
He was born in 1881 at Barnack, Northants, and was educated at Oundle and Christ's College, Cambridge, where he played a prominent part in college activities, especially on the river. A first-class honours degree in the engineering tripos was followed by practical experience in Siemens's dynamo works at Stafford, after which he was appointed to H.M.S. Vernon as Instructor to Officers at the Torpedo School and at Whale Island, and later became Professor of Physics at the Royal Naval College, Greenwich. When the 1914-18 War broke out he immediately offered his services to the Admiralty and was posted to H.M. Signal School, Portsmouth, for wireless telegraphy duties. At the end of the war he returned to Greenwich, but stayed only until 1922, when he was appointed Professor of Electrical Engineering in the University of London at Imperial College, and it was there that he found his life's work. His greatest interest lay in teaching, and many hundreds of his old students will remember with gratitude and affection the unremitting energy and attention which he gave to their work in his department.
It was not only their professional work, however, that interested Fortescue. His old love of the river drew him whenever the College crews were rowing, and it had to be a very important engagement that would keep him away from a Morphy Cup race. Athletics, the Dramatic Society and many other college activities also interested him keenly, and it can be said with truth that throughout his career he was single-minded in his efforts to promote the well-being of the students.
The Deanship of the City and Guilds College—the engineering section of Imperial College—has, since the retirement of the late Prof. W. E. Dalby in 1931, been held in rotation by the Heads of the Engineering Departments, and it fell to Fortescue to occupy the position twice. It was no surprise to those who knew him that he threw himself into the manifold duties of the office with energy and enthusiasm, and no point of detail was too small for his personal attention. The many problems relating to the safety and convenience of students and staff which were thrown up by war conditions were dealt with in meticulous detail, and it was largely owing to his untiring efforts that the work of the College in those difficult days proceeded so smoothly. All this work, however, was paid for by a restriction of his research activities, and it was a matter of regret to him that so little time was left for the scientific studies that he was so eager to undertake. In spite of this, however, he was the author of a considerable number of papers and articles which were published in the Journal of The Institution of Electrical Engineers, the Journal of Scientific Instruments and other publications, and he also wrote "Wireless Telegraphy" (1912) and "The Naval Electrical Manual (1928). He contributed much in writing and discussion to the problems of professional education, and his advice and help were of the greatest value both to this Institution and to The Institution of Civil Engineers. His election as President of The Institution of Electrical Engineers came as a fitting recognition of a career devoted to raising the standards of education and to the welfare of the younger members of the profession, and was greeted with special pleasure by his academic colleagues. In 1909 he married Mary Dorothea (nee Wright), who survives him with a son and a daughter. He was made an O.B.E. for his services in the 1914-18 War. He became a Member of The Institution in 1914, and served as a member of Council 1925-28 and 1935-38, as Chairman of the Wireless Section 1926-27, as Vice-President 1938-41, and as President 1942-43. He was also a Member of The Institution of Civil Engineers. He was awarded a Wireless Section Premium in 1920 and again in 1923.