Henry Hiller
Henry Hiller (1833-1913)
Chief Engineer, National Boiler Insurance Co, 22 St. Ann's Square, Manchester.
Had son Edward George Hiller
1913 Obituary [1]
HENRY HILLER was born in Sheffield on 13th June 1833.
He was educated in Sheffield, and was afterwards apprenticed at the works of Messrs. Walker, Eaton and Co. At that time there were very limited facilities for any theoretical education in Sheffield, the most he could obtain being derived from a class in mechanical drawing.
On the completion of his apprenticeship he worked as a fitter at the locomotive works of Messrs. Sharp, Roberts and Co., Manchester, and at the Gorton Works of the Manchester, Sheffield and Lincolnshire Railway.
He was subsequently appointed to be assistant to the chief engineer of the Manchester Steam Users' Association. Having spent some time in that service, he was appointed in 1864 chief inspector and afterwards chief engineer of the National Boiler Insurance, of Manchester. This company was then in its early days, and the whole of his energies were occupied in its development, both on the engineering and the commercial sides. The period of his work was one of considerable change in boiler construction and attention, and he took a great part in the work of improving boiler design, which in this country is attributable in a large degree to the work of the Insurance Companies. On the staff of the National Boiler Insurance Co., with which he was associated and which is now under the direction of his son, Mr. Edward G. Hiller (Member), there are over 300 persons, and the number of engineers employed in inspecting, supervising, etc., is over 100. Among his inventions may be mentioned those relating to fusible plugs, safety-valves, etc., which proved very successful.
His death took place at his residence in Manchester on 9th April 1913, in his eightieth year.