Alfred John Mansell (1834-1904)
1904 Obituary [1]
ALFRED JOHN MANSELL, born on the 20th April, 1834, served a pupilage to John Penn and Sons, Greenwich, and after a year’s experience in the works of the Thames Shipbuilding Co, Blackwall, he went to Brazil in 1858 as Superintending Engineer of the Shipbuilding and Engineering works of the Ponta de Area Company at Rio de Janeiro, where for five years he was engaged in the construction of steamers for the coasting trade, of bridges and pontoons and agricultural machinery.
In 1864 he erected a large sugar refinery, in the city, and acted until 1879 as Manager of the works, in which he was financially interested, practising at the same time as a consulting engineer.
During intervals in his consulting practice, which he retained up to the date of his death, he conducted a general commission business in Rio, acted as manager of a biscuit factory, and as Engineer to a firm of importers of European machinery, and superintended the drawing-office of the locomotive department of the Leopoldina Railway.
At various times he lent his professional services to the Brazilian Government, once as referee for machinery at the International Exhibition at Rio in 1866, and on two occasions in connection with the customs and the revision of the tariff.
Mr. Mansell died suddenly in Rio de Janeiro on the 16th April, 1904.
He was elected a Member of the Institution on the 3rd December, 1889.