Shapurji Sorabji
Shapurji Sorabji (1863-1932)
1896 of Shapurjee and Ratanshaw, 1 and 2 West India House, Leadenhall Street, London
1932 Obituary [1]
SHAPURJI SORABJI came of an industrial family of the Parsee Community of Bombay and was adopted from the time of his birth in 1863 by his grandfather, Mr. Sorabji Shapurji, whose name he was also given. He received his education in Bombay and matriculated in 1879. His father, Mr. H. C. Shroff, died at an early age, and his business declined. Though only 16 years of age Mr. Sorabji successfully restored the business.
In 1884 he came to England in order to familiarize himself with the engineering profession, and entered the works of Messrs. Hick, Hargreaves and Company of Bolton as an apprentice. During the three years he was with this firm he also attended technical classes at Owens College, Manchester, where he gained the Ashbury Scholarship. Prior to his return to India in 1887 Mr. Sorabji was elected a Member of the Institution.
Amongst the activities in which he was subsequently concerned was the representation of several English engineering firms in India. He was the governing director of Messrs. Sorabjee Shapurjee and Company and owner of the Bombay Foundry and Iron Works.
In 1896 he established the Globe Mills in Bombay, which he disposed of in 1913.
In 1922 he was appointed by the Government the first chairman of the Versova Beach Sanitary Committee, and he was also interested in suburban lighting schemes.
His death occurred on 7th July 1932.