Adolphus Nathan
Adolphus Nathan (1843-1928)
1929 Obituary [1]
ADOLPHUS NATHAN WOO the son of that Sarina Nathan who took an active part in the history of the Italian regeneration and gave hospitality more than once to Guiseppe Mazzini in London.
He was born in London in 1843, and after taking a University degree in London, went to Italy and founded a mechanical engineering works.
Bridges were his speciality, and amongst those for which he was responsible may be mentioned a bridge over the river Po nearly a mile in length, one across the Blue Nile, and another in Siam.
He made the first pumps for supplying Milan with water in 1885, which incorporated a mechanism of his own invention for regulating the level of the water. The first electric crane in Italy with automatic mechanism and electric brake was built by him, and thirty years ago he designed and built a steam-engine of 100 h.p. with a system of forced lubrication by means of a pump.
Mr. Nathan was a fervent Englishman, and expressed a wish to have his membership of the Institution engraved on his tombstone.
He had been a Member since 1888, and his death occurred on 22nd March 1928 in Milan.