Henri Despaigne
Henri Despaigne (1869-1918)of H. Despaigne Engineering Co
1919 Obituary [1]
HENRI DESPAIGNE was born in Paris on the 16th March 1869.
After five years' study at the University of Bordeaux, he entered, in 1889, the drawing office of Messrs. Cail-Halot, and in the following year he went to the firm of Bollinckx and Co., Brussels, subsequently completing his training at the works of P. Van de Kerkove, Ltd., and Van Wassenhove, of Ghent.
He then became assistant manager with the latter firm, and in 1895 started on his own account as designer of machine-tools.
Five years later he founded a machine-tool works at Brussels, and specialized in forging presses, thread rolling machines, automatic machines for making rivets, wire nails, etc. The works were about to be enlarged when the War broke out, and later he transferred his business to Westminster, as the H. Despaigne Engineering Co., engineers and contractors.
His death took place in London, after an operation, on 24th November 1918, at the age of forty-nine.
He became a Member of this Institution in 1918.