Benjamin Thomas King
Benjamin Thomas King (1871-1936), founder and governing director of Kings Patent Agency
1936 Obituary [1]
BENJAMIN THOMAS KING was the founder and governing director of King's Patent Agency, Ltd. He had been in business as a patent agent for almost fifty years.
He was born at Wimbledon in 1871, and was articled in 1886 to Mr. James Stevenson, patent agent, with whom he served for seven years. He also studied under Professor Henry Spooner, M.I.Mech.E., at the Polytechnic, Regent Street. He was one of the first patent agents in the country to qualify for registration by examination, and in 1893 he was elected a representative of the profession before a committee dealing with amendments in patent laws.
From 1893 to 1898 he assisted Mr. T. B. Browne in his business as a patent agent in London, and in the latter year he founded the business associated with his name. Among many notable inventions for which he secured patents was the first Dunlop tyre for cycles. The firm was formed into a limited liability company in 1908. Mr. King was also keenly interested in local government matters, especially in connexion with education.
In 1906 he was made a Freeman of the City of London.
He was elected an Associate of the Institution in 1896, and was transferred to the rank of Companion in 1922.
His death occurred on 24th April 1936.