Thomas Commerford Martin
Thomas Commerford Martin (1856-1924)
1925 Obituary [1]
THOMAS COMMERFORD MARTIN was born in London in 1856 and when quite young went to America, where from 1877 to 1879 he was associated with Edison in electrical development.
In 1883 he was appointed editor of the Electrical World and held that position for seven years, resigning to assume the editorship of the Electrical Engineer.
In 1899, when the Electrical World came under the control of the McGraw-Hill Publishing Co., which also purchased the Electrical Engineer and amalgamated the two papers, Mr. Martin again became editor of the Electrical World, holding this post until 1909.
In addition to contributing on electrical subjects to periodicals, he wrote a number of books, amongst these being "The Electric Motor and its Applications," "Inventions, Researches and Writings of Nikola Tesla," "Edison—His Life and Inventions" (in collaboration with Mr. F. L. Dyer), and "The Story of Electricity" (in collaboration with Mr. S. L. Coles).
Mr. Martin was elected a Foreign Member of the Institution in 1891 and a Member in 1911. He served as' President of the American Institute of Electrical Engineers in 1887 and as executive Secretary of the National Electric Light Association from 1910 to 1919.
He died on the 17th May, 1924, at the age of 67.
1924 Obituary [2]
THOMAS COMMERFORD MARTIN died at Pittsfield, Massachusetts, on May 17, 1924.
He was born in London in 1856 and was educated at Gravesend. He was associated with Thomas A. Edison in electrical research from 1877 to 1897, and had been editor of the Electrical World from 1883 to 1909. He had lectured on engineering subjects in England and France, and in 1907 was decorated Officer of Public Instruction by the French Government. He was a Past-President of the American Institute of Electrical Engineers and of the New York Electrical Society. He was also a member of the Engineering College, George Washington University; and of numerous scientific clubs and societies. He was a member of the committee organised by the American engineering societies to expend the $,500,000 gift of Andrew Carnegie for the erection of a United Engineering Societies Building and the Engineers' Club in New York. He was a frequent contributor to scientific and trade journals, and was author of books on research and invention.
He was elected a life member of the Iron and Steel Institute in 1905.