James Barrett
James Barrett (1808-1859)
1848 James Barrett met Dr Henry Hawes Fox
James Barrett with Hawes' eldest son formed Fox and Barrett to exploit Dr Fox's invention.
1860 Obituary [1]
MR. JAMES BARRETT was born in Queen Square, Bristol, in the year 1808, and was educated at Brislington, near that city.
At an early age he entered the office of the late Mr. H. C. Price, who had introduced a new system of warming and ventilating, known as that of Price and Manby, and Mr. Barrett took an active part for many years, in the application of the system to the numerous buildings in which it has been employed.
In 1848, Mr. Barrett became acquainted with the late Dr. Henry Hawes Fox, of Bristol, who had recently originated a method of fireproof construction now well known as ‘Fox and Barrett’s’; and, in conjunction with the eldest son of Dr. Fox, he removed to London and established the system which has since been so extensively adopted, and with which his name will always be identified.
Dr. Fox dying in 1851, the partnership was dissolved, and from that time, the business was carried on by Mr. Barrett, with the assistance of his Son.
He joined the Institution, as an Associate, in 1850, and was a frequent attendant at the Meetings. In January, 1853, he contributed a Paper 'On the Construction of Fire-proof Buildings,' to which a Telford Medal was awarded.
His decease, due to an attack of erysipelas in the head, occurred very suddenly on the 30th of April, 1859, in his fifty-first year, to the great grief of his family and of a numerous circle of friends, by whom he was justly esteemed as a very worthy, upright man.