Thornycroft Donaldson
Thornycroft Donaldson (c1883-1955) of Thornycroft
c1883 Born the son of John Donaldson
1955 Obituary [1]
MR. THORNYCROFT DONALDSON, whose death, we regret to note, occurred on September 24th, had been actively associated with John I. Thornycroft and Co., Ltd., for over fifty years. Mr. Donaldson, who was eighty-two, was born at Chiswick, his father being in partnership with the late Sir John I. Thornycroft.
Thornycroft Donaldson was educated at Charterhouse and at Trinity College, Cambridge, and he also studied at the Central Technical College under Professor Ayrton.
He subsequently became assistant engineering manager at Thornycroft's Chiswick yard, where he did a great deal of work on the production of the first torpedo boat destroyer. At the same time he was closely concerned with developments in marine engine design.
On the formation of John I . Thornycroft and Co., Ltd., in 1901, Mr. Donaldson became technical director, and when the Chiswick yard was closed he transferred to the new Woolston works at Southampton, where he undertook responsibility for all the machinery design. He was appointed director and general manager of the Woolston works and shipyard in 1921, and did not, in fact, retire completely from active participation in the business until a couple of years or so ago.
In addition to his technical ability, which was continually reflected throughout his long career as a marine engineer, Mr. Donaldson was particularly successful in the handling of the many problems which arise in the running of an industrial organisation.
Mr. Donaldson was elected an associate member of the Institution of Civil Engineers in 1898 and was transferred to full membership in 1913. In 1899, he was awarded a Telford Premium by the Institution for his paper on "Stress in Bent Pipes."
1956 Obituary [2]
Thornycroft Donaldson, M.A., had been actively associated with John I. Thornycroft and Co., Ltd. for over fifty years.
He was educated at Charterhouse, and Trinity College, Cambridge, where he graduated M.A. He also studied at the Central Technical College, South Kensington. Subsequently, he became Assistant Engineering Manager at Messrs. Thornycroft's Chiswick yard, and did a great deal of work on the production of the first torpedo boat destroyer, at the same time being closely concerned with developments in marine-engine design.
On the formation of John I. Thornycroft and Co., Ltd., in 1901, he became Technical Director and later transferred to their new works at Woolston, Southampton, where he was responsible for all the machinery design. In 1921 he was appointed Director and General Manager. He retired completely from active work about two years before his death.
He was elected a Member of the Institution in 1929, and was also a Member of the Institution of Civil Engineers and the Institution of Naval Architects. In 1899 he was awarded a Telford Premium by the Institution of Civil Engineers for his paper on 'Stress in Bent Pipes'.
His death occurred at the age of eighty-two years on 24th September 1955.
1955 Obituary [3]