George Seymour
George Seymour (1848-1896)
1897 Obituary [1]
GEOBGE SEYMOUR was born at Boston, Lincolnshire, on the 17th August, 1848.
At an early age he lost both parents and was adopted by an uncle, a well-known shipowner, by whom he was sent, when only thirteen years old, to Lima, Peru. There he remained for two years, acquiring a thorough knowledge of the Spanish language which afterwards served him in good stead.
Returning to Europe, he spent some years in a school at Joinvillele-Pont, near Paris, afterwards completing his education at Wiesbaden. Thus equipped as a linguist, he was able to begin his training as a mining engineer under specially favourable conditions, the late Mr. David Forbes giving him an appointment in the works of the Spanish Mineral Phosphate Company at Cacares in Estremadura.
He was engaged in Spain until 1870, when he proceeded to Iceland in charge of an expedition designed to work the Krisuvic sulphur mines. Unfortunately the steamer engaged for the expedition, the "Hannibal," was totally wrecked off the Westmann Islands on the Christmas Eve of the year mentioned, and Mr. Seymour barely escaped with his life.
After some months of wandering, during which the members of the expedition were treated with much kindness by the hospitable inhabitants, Mr. Seymour and his companions returned home, but again visited Iceland in the summer of 1872 under more favourable auspices.
In the succeeding autumn he entered the Royal School of Mines as a student. He attended all the terms there until 1875, when he passed out with the Associateship of the School, securing also the coveted Murchison Geological medal and prize for his year.
He employed the vacation of 1874 in a third visit to Iceland, having been recommended by Sir Andrew Ramsay to the late Mr. F. Poulett-Scrope (presumably this refers to George Poulett Scrope) for the purpose of making a report on the geology of the southern portion of the island, from Reykyavik to Vatna-Jiikull.
In 1876 Mr. Seymour became a member of the staff of Mr. Thomas Sopwith, by whom he was employed in surveying and reporting upon mines in Spain and South America.
Five years later, in 1881, Mr. Seymour joined Mr. Emerson Bainbridge and Mr. Rathbone as a member of the firm of Bainbridge, Seymour and Rathbone (subsequently changed to Bainbridge, Seymour & Co.); and from that time till his death, on the. 4th January, 1896, he was incessantly engaged in reporting upon and inspecting mining property in all parts of the world. The reputation of his firm, which rapidly rose to the front rank, was such that he was seldom at home for more than a few months at a time, while latterly he had also to direct the operations of a large staff of assistants.
He took an active part in founding the Institution of Mining and Metallurgy, of which he was the first President.
Mr. Seymour was elected an Associate on the 11th March, 1879, and was transferred to the class of Member on the 26th February, 1889.