David Hardman Fletcher
David Hardman Fletcher (1847-1884) of William Collier and Co
1847 Born son of James Fletcher and brother of Edward Fletcher (1840-1887)
1885 Obituary [1]
DAVID HARDMAN FLETCHER was born in Manchester on 23rd October 1847, and was the youngest son of the late Mr. James Fletcher, of Messrs. William Collier and Co., engineers and machine tool makers, Salford, who was a Member of this Institution till his death in 1881.
At the age of sixteen he was placed in the office of these works, of which his father was then the sole proprietor; and in 1875 he was made a partner in the firm, along with his elder brothers. Owing to a serious defect in his eye-sight he was unable to acquaint himself practically with the manufacture of machine-tools; but by constant study and assiduous attention he became thoroughly acquainted with their principles, and his theoretical knowledge was on many occasions of great service. The active part he took in the business consisted mostly in travelling in this country and abroad in connection with the firm, and in the management of the financial department.
He died on 18th March 1884 at the age of thirty-six, after a protracted illness.
He became a Member of the Institution in 1882.