Humphrey Chamberlain (1846-1896)
Humphrey Chamberlain (1846-1896), Chief Resident Engineer of the Central Uruguay Railway.
Eldest son of Humphrey Chamberlain, of Barnsley
1896 Died at Upper Norwood
1896 Obituary [1]
HUMPHREY CHAMBERLAIN, born on the 26th May, 1846, was the son of the late Mr. Humphrey Chamberlain, who was then manager of pottery works at Worcester and subsequently agent for many years to Messrs. Bradley and Craven, of Wakefield.
After being educated at Worcester Collegiate School and in Germany, the subject of this notice was apprenticed in 1863 to Messrs. Bradley and Craven, and in the following year was sent by that firm to Buenos Ayres to superintend the erection of some machinery.
From June, 1866, to January, 1867, he acted as an Assistant Engineer on the preliminary surveys of the Central Uruguay Railway.
He was then engaged for ten months on the contractor’s staff of the Midland Railway extension from Bedford to St. Pancras, and was subsequently for a time again in the employment of Messrs. Bradley and Craven.
In October, 1868, Mr. Chamberlain was appointed Locomotive Superintendent of the Central Uruguay Railway, in the service of which Company he spent the remainder of his life.
In July, 1873, he became Chief Resident Engineer of the line, and in addition to the duties of that post he acted since 1878 as General Manager. The climate of South America, however, severely affected his health and in 1891 he was obliged to take sick leave.
On returning in the following year he was again prostrated by heart disease and liver complaint, and in 1895 he was obliged to come home once more. He died at Upper Norwood on the 9th January, 1896.
Mr. Chamberlain was much liked and respected, both at home and abroad. Shortly before his death he was “decreed” Consulting Engineer in England for the republic of Uruguay.
He was elected an Associate on the 29th May, 1877, was subsequently placed among the Associate Members, and on the 14th May, 1889, was transferred to the class of Member.