Charles Frederick Focken
Charles Frederick Focken (1862-1906)
1906 Obituary [1]
CHARLES FREDERICK FOCKEN was born at Emerald Hill, South Melbourne, Victoria, on 6th September 1862.
During childhood he lived with his parents in China, returning later to Melbourne, where he gained his earlier education.
Afterwards he went to Germany and attended a technical school in Blankenese, subsequently serving an apprenticeship at the engineering works of Messrs. Menke and Hambrookes.
In 1880 he again entered a technical school in Hamburg, and, on the completion of his studies in the following year, went to Hong Kong, where he served an apprenticeship in the works of the Hong Kong and Whampoa Dock Co.
In 1884 he went to sea as junior engineer, rising to be chief engineer in 1888 when he entered the service of Messrs. Apcar and Co., of Calcutta, with whom he remained some years.
He next became harbour engineer for the Hong Kong and Whampoa Dock Co. for a time, after which he was appointed assistant superintendent engineer of the Norddeutscher Lloyd Steamship Co., and later chief superintendent engineer at Hong Kong, which position he occupied at his death on 30th October 1906, at the age of forty-four.
He became a Member of this Institution in 1892.