John Boyd (1810-1878)
1879 Obituary [1]
MR. JOHN BOTD was born at Hexham on the 16th of May, 1810.
Then about eighteen years of age he commenced his career, under the firm of John Abbot and Co., of Newcastle-on-Tyne, whose intimate friendship he retained during the lives of both father and son.
In 1848 he came to London as financial agent to Messrs. Bolckow and Vaughan, of Middlesbrough-on-Tees, with whom, in their works and collieries, he was connected during many years, and took the’ whole of their railway orders and engagements. His probity and integrity of purpose were such, and so generally known by all with whom he was connected, that the firm of Abbot and Co. offered to accept him as a partner some time after he came to London.
Mr. Boyd occasionally took part in the discussions at the Institution of Civil Engineers, but failing health for some years prevented his attendance at the meetings.
In politics he was a Liberal, and in the borough of Chelsea, where he resided, his personal interest and friendship were given to Sir Charles W. Dilke, Bart., M.P. His ideas were ever of progress and the common weal, and he was especially well able to judge of the question of Capital versus Labour.
Mr. Boyd was elected an Associate of the Institution on the 7th of December, 1852.
He died at Eastbourne on the 17th of October, 18i8.