William John Pratten
William John Pratten (c1844-1928) of Harland and Wolff, Belfast.
1928 Obituary [1]
WILLIAM JOHN PRATTEN was for over forty years the head of the engineering department of Messrs. Harland and Wolff, and since 1913 had been a member of the Belfast Harbour Board.
He was born and educated in London, and in 1859 commenced a five years' training at Woolwich Dockyard.
He was afterwards admitted to the Royal School of Naval Architecture where he received a further three years' training.
In 1867 he entered the Royal Navy as an engineer.
Upon the completion of four years' service he joined |Messrs. Earle's Shipbuilding Company, and in 1879 commenced his long association with Messrs. Harland and Wolff by laying-out the new engine works of the firm at Belfast.
Amongst the vessels engined under Mr. Pratten's supervision were the "Majestic," the "Teutonic," the "Celtic," the "Cedric," the "Baltic," the "Adriatic," the "Oceanic," and the "Olympic."
Mr. Pratten, who was 84 years of age, died on 9th February 1928.
He became a Member of the Institution in 1885 and he was also a Member of the Institution of Naval Architects.