John McNeil (1845-1927) of Aitken, McNeil and Co, Helen Street, Govan, Glasgow.
1927 Obituary [1]
JOHN McNEIL devoted the whole of his engineering career to the study of sugar making and the manufacture of sugar machinery.
He was born in Glasgow in 1845 and served his apprenticeship with Messrs. W. and A. McOnie.
After an interval of a year with the North-Eastern Marine Engineering Company of Sunderland, he returned to Messrs. W. and A. McOnie for whom he served for fifteen years as chief draughtsman.
In 1881, he and the late Mr. Thomas Aitken, the works manager, established the firm of Messrs. Aitken, McNeil and Company. This business was taken over entirely by Mr. McNeil in 1896, and continued under his direction until his death.
He was one of the founders of the Engineering and Allied Employers' National Federation and the British Empire Producers' Organization, He was also for many years a member of the West India Committee.
Mr. McNeil died on 28th July 1927 at his home at Prestwick.
He became a Member of the Institution in 1885.