Edward Bates
Edward Bates ( -1887)
1887 Obituary [1]
EDWARD BATES was the son of Samuel Bates, of Brettell Lane, near Stourbridge, a manager of large ironworks in the neighbourhood. His father and mother died when he was a child.
He was educated at local schools, and also at the St. Anne’s Society’s Schools at Brixton Hill, near London. He was apprenticed to Messrs. Cochrane & Co., of the Woodside Ironworks, Dudley, and while with them had charge of the erection of machinery at the Maidstone Waterworks.
He came to London at an early age under the auspices of the late Mr. Charles Manby, Secretary Inst.C.E., and was employed by various firms, and was also for some time in practice on his own account.
He was afterwards in the employment of the Continental Union, L’Union des Gaz, and European Gas Companies as acting engineer for thirteen years, and was with them until his death, which took place on the 26th of May, 1887, from an apoplectic fit after an illness of only four days.
Possessed of strong-views of duty, and of good business capacity, Edward Bates had a considerable knowledge of men and things. His duties with the various companies carried him often abroad to their stations and works at Rouen, Havre, Strasbourg, Genoa, Milan, &c. He also proceeded for them to Constantinople, and whilst there had a sunstroke leading to prolonged illness. Though not a man of any great physical strength, he was fond of athletic pursuits and was particularly addicted to rowing, being for many years a member of the West London and afterwards of the London Rowing Clubs. The microscope, too, was a great passion with him, and he was a member of the Quekett Microscopical Society, and of the New Athenzum Club.
Mr. Bates was elected an Associate of the Institution on the 12th of January, 1875, and was transferred to the class of Associate Members when that class was created.