Thomas Millar
Thomas Millar (1858-1925)
1925 Obituary [1]
THOMAS MILLAR was born at Dunfermline, Fifeshire, on 9th March 1858, and received his scholastic education at the Public School, Kinghorn, this being supplemented later on by studies in technical subjects at the High School, Burntisland.
He served his apprenticeship from 1872 to 1879 with Mr. John Key, engineer, Kinghorn, and on completing his term he went to Ireland as a draughtsman in the works of Messrs. Harland and Wolff, Belfast.
In 1880, however, he returned to Scotland, to become chief draughtsman with his old friends, Messrs. John Key and Sons, of the Kirkcaldy Engine Works, with whom he remained for about two years.
He was appointed chief draughtsman at the Walker Shipyard of Sir W. G. Armstrong and Co., and became assistant manager in 1888, two years later being made travelling representative of the firm. In this capacity he visited many countries, arranging important contracts for ships of various kinds, including the Lake Baikal Ferry steamers, Russian and Finnish ice-breakers, and oil-tank steamers for service on the Caspian Sea.
He resigned this position in 1905 in order to join Messrs. Gourlay Brothers, Dundee, as a partner, and at the termination of this connexion, he started on his own account in Glasgow in 1907 as a consulting engineer and naval architect, and as representative in Scotland of Messrs. Clarke, Chapman and Co. and the Darlington Forge.
Mr. Millar was for nearly twenty years an active officer of the 5th Battalion Northumberland Fusiliers, retiring with the rank of major.
His death took place on 23rd December 1925 at Kelvinside, Glasgow.
He became a Member of this Institution in 1902.