Alfred Colson (1849-1910), Gas and Electric Light Engineer to the Leicester Corporation
1849 Born at Newport, Mon. the son of Henry Colson
1910 Obituary [1]
ALFRED COLSON, born at Newport, Monmouth, on the 31st January, 1849, died on the 27th Map, 1910, at Leicester, where he had been Gas Engineer to the Corporation for 28 years.
Appointed in 1882, after some years’ similar experience in Birmingham, he carried out many improvements and extensions, and later successfully undertook also the management of the electrical department.
A well-known figure in gas-engineering circles, he was the patentee of many inventions, especially for dealing with residuals, and frequently acted in a consultative capacity.
He was elected an Associate Member of The Institution on the 7th March, 1886, and was transferred to the class of Members on the 9th April, 1889.
1910 Obituary [2]
ALFRED COLSON was born at Newport (Mon.) and educated at King's College, London, being afterwards articled to his father, who was then one of the chief engineers to the London and South-Western Railway.
In 1872 he went to Birmingham as assistant engineer to Mr. Charles Hunt, and was given sole charge of a local gas undertaking.
In 1882 he was appointed gas engineer to the Leicester Corporation, which position he held up to the time of his death.
When the Leicester Corporation in 1892 took up electric lighting he had charge of this undertaking in addition to his other duties, and showed great ability in managing the two lighting departments.
He invented a cash-box for prepayment meters, and a simple and effective method of removing naphthalene from coal gas. He was elected a Member of the Institution in 1900.
His death occurred on May 27, 1910, after an illness lasting several months.
1910 Obituary [3]