Joseph Ruston (1835-1897), founder of Ruston, Proctor and Co
1835 February. Born at Chatteris the son of Robert Ruston (1795-1851), a farmer, and his wife Margaret nee Seward.
1841 Robert Ruston, farmer, 45, of Chatteris, Isle of Ely, with Margaret 45, William 20, Caroline 11, Arthur 8, Joseph 6, Julia 3[1]
1851 Living in Chatteris with his parents[2]
Apprenticed at a Sheffield cutlery firm
1856 With a modest inheritance from his father he bought a partnership in Proctor and Burton
1857 Forms Ruston, Burton and Proctor but six months later Theophilus Burton disagreed and left the partnership which went onto become Ruston, Proctor and Co
1859 Joseph Ruston of the Sheaf Iron Works, Lincoln, the youngest son of the late Robert Ruston of Chatteris, marries Jane the younger daughter of William Brown of the Sheffield and Rotherham Banks [3]
1881 Living at Monk's Manor, Greetwell Road, Lincoln (age 46 born Chatteris), Mechanical Engineer Master employing 1,000 workmen and boys. With wife Jane (age 43 born Sheffield) and children Alice (age 19), Lucy (age 18), Marion (age 14), Ethel (age 13), Eva (age 8), William (age 6), Elsie (age 4) plus a visitor and seven servants [4]
1891 Appointed Sheriff of Lincolnshire [5]
1897 June 10th. Died. Age 62. Built up Ruston, Proctor and Co from a small millwright's business to employing 2,000 persons. Survived by a widow and seven children. [6]
1897 September. His will mentions his homes at Monk's Manor, Lincoln and 5 St. George's Place, London; his sister Caroline Sarah Daintree; his brother Arthur Ruston; his niece Caroline Ruston; his brother William Seward Ruston; his son Joseph Seward Ruston; other sons and daughters (not named). [7]
1897 Obituary [8]
JOSEPH RUSTON was born on 12th February 1835 at Chatteris, Cambridgeshire.
Having served his time with Messrs. Wostenholm and Son, Washington Cutlery Works, Sheffield, he began business as a millwright in a small way at Lincoln in 1857.
By dint of great energy he built up a large engineering concern, which was converted into a company in 1889.
From 1857 to 1897 the works produced 20,800 engines, 19,700 boilers, 10,900 threshing machines, and 1,350 corn mills, in addition to a number of other miscellaneous implements. It was largely by cultivating a foreign connection that these results were obtained.
At the Lincoln Meeting of this Institution in 1885 he contributed a Paper on Dunbar and Ruston's steam navvy (Proceedings 1885, page 349). In municipal affairs he took a great interest, and became councillor, alderman, justice of the peace, and mayor of Lincoln; and for some years he represented that city in parliament.
He had conferred upon him the Cross of the Legion of Honour, and the Order of the Osmanieh.
His death took place at his residence in Lincoln on 10th June 1897, at the age of sixty-two.
He became a Member of this Institution in 1867.
Obituary 1897[9]
"...died Mr. Joseph Ruston, chairman of the board of directors of Messrs. Ruston, Proctor, and Co., engineers. He was the son of the late Robert Ruston, of Chatteris, and was born in 1835.
In 1857 he went to Lincoln, and invested his capital in a millwright business carried on by Messrs. Ruston and Proctor, and increased it by his exertions from the small establishment employing twenty-five bands to the large business with which his name has for many years been connected. In 1889 the undertaking was converted into a limited liability company, with a capital of half a million.
The firm is very well known, and has received no fewer than 267 medals and awards..."More
1897 Obituary[10]
"THE LATE MR. JOSEPH RUSTON.- The death occurred late on the 10th inst. of Mr. Joseph Ruston, the head and founder of Ruston, Proctor, and Co., Limited. Mr. Ruston was born at Chatteris in 1835, and began business as a millwright in a small way at Lincoln in 1857; but worked with such assiduity and energy as to rapidly build up a large concern, which ultimately, in 1889, was transferred to a limited liability company, with a capital of 250,000L. in shares, and 250,000L. in debentures. The profits of the firm for the seven years prior to 1889 averaged 50,000L. per annum. The past financial year was not a favourable one for the company, but with this exception it has done very well, and it is now employing 1900 work people, its iron works covering an area of 8 acres, and its wood works occupying a site of equal importance. From the year in which Mr. Ruston established himself in business at Lincoln to May, 1897, the firm and company sent out 20,800 engines, 19,700 boilers, 10,900 threshing machines, and 1350 corn mills, in addition to a large number of other miscellaneous implements. Such results as these could not have been attained without the development of a foreign connection, which Mr. Ruston did his utmost to build up. Mr. Ruston proved himself a munificent friend to Lincoln, having provided a fine drill-hall for the local volunteers, a children's ward at the Lincoln County Hospital, &c. Although a Nonconformist, he restored a monument in Lincoln Cathedral to the memory of Queen Eleanor. Like many other successful industrials, Mr. Ruston aspired to enter Parliament, and he was returned for Lincoln by a majority of nearly 1000 in 1884. He was re-elected at the general election of 1895, but his political career terminated with the Home Rule proposals of Mr. Gladstoue, which he could not accept. He had conferred upon him the cross of the Legion of Honour and the Order of the Osmanieh. A widow and seven children survive him."
See Also
Sources of Information
- ↑ 1841 census
- ↑ 1851 census
- ↑ The Morning Chronicle , Saturday, March 19, 1859
- ↑ 1881 Census
- ↑ The Times, Saturday, Mar 21, 1891
- ↑ The Standard, Saturday, June 12, 1897
- ↑ The Morning Post, Friday, September 17, 1897
- ↑ 1897 Institution of Mechanical Engineers: Obituaries
- ↑ The Engineer 1897/06/18, p623.
- ↑ Engineering 1897/06/18