David Thomas Powell
David Thomas Powell (c1871-1936) of Kennedy and Jenkin, subsequently Kennedy and Donkin
1936 Obituary [1]
DAVID THOMAS POWELL joined the staff of Sir Alexander Kennedy, M.I.Mech.E., then Professor Kennedy, in 1898, and remained in the firm of Messrs. Kennedy and Jenkin, subsequently Messrs. Kennedy and Donkin, until his death, which occurred on 29th December 1936, at the age of 65.
He received his technical education at the Central Technical College (now the City and Guilds Engineering College) from 1889 to 1892, when he gained a diploma in electrical engineering.
Subsequently he served his apprenticeship at the works of Messrs. Hawthorn, Leslie and Company, of Hebburn on Tyne, and was subsequently employed for three years in the drawing office.
In 1897 he joined the Kensington and Knightsbridge Electric Light Company, with whom he remained until joining Professor Kennedy's staff.
He was resident engineer for the installation of the 3,000 h.p. water turbines for the Scottish Cyanide Company, Ltd., at Leven, and for the erection of the whole of the Grove Road Generating Station, St. John's Wood, and he took charge of the cable distribution system from that station to the substations. He was largely responsible for the design and contract work in connexion with the Portobello Power Station, Edinburgh, and was chief resident engineer during its erection and during the installation of the transmission system to various substations. On the completion of this work he became responsible for contract work generally in his firm's London office, which embraced a large number of electric supply schemes for various municipalities, and also included work in connexion with tramway and railway electrification.
For the last ten years of his life he was engaged almost entirely on work for the Central Electricity Board, and was particularly responsible for the Central Scotland Scheme, the first of the Board's areas to commence working.
Mr. Powell was elected an Associate Member of the Institution in 1900, and was also a Member of the Institution of Electrical Engineers.