Jacob Birch
Jacob Birch (1875-1940)
1941 Obituary [1]
JACOB BIRCH was born in Liverpool in 1875 and received his technical education at the Liverpool School of Science, Technology and Art, and at the Liverpool Technical School, where he studied with distinction. He served his apprenticeship to mechanical and marine engineering with Messrs. John Jones and Sons, engineers and shipbuilders, from 1890 to 1895. After being employed as a journeyman at various workshops in Lancashire, he was appointed fourth engineer in S.S. Hippomenes, of the Houston Line, Liverpool, and later became fourth, third, and second engineer in various steamships in the West India and Pacific Steamship Company.
He was second engineer of the S.S. Antillian when she was used as transport during the South African War. From 1903 to 1908 he was chief engineer of the power station of the Alexandra (Newport and South Wales) Docks and Railway Company, and also superintendent engineer of the dredging and towing plant. He was chief engineer at the time the power station was visited by members of the Institution in 1906. He joined the staff of the Gresham Insurance Society in 1912 as engineer surveyor and was made chief engineer in 1919, a position which he held until 1935, when he was appointed, in addition, chief engineer of the Legal and General Assurance Society.
He held these joint appointments until his retirement in September 1939. Mr. Birch, whose death occurred on 17th July 1940, was elected a Member of the Institution in 1921.