James Callander
Sir James Callander (1877-1952), director of Vickers-Armstrongs
1952 Obituary [1]
As we go to press, we learn with regret of the death of Sir James Callander, which occurred at Newby Bridge, Lancashire, on March 23rd.
Sir James, who was seventy-five, was formerly a director and deputy-chairman of Vickers-Armstrongs, Ltd., the predecessor of which he joined in 1900.
1952 Obituary [2]
As briefly announced in our last issue, the death of Sir James Callander occurred at his, home at Newby Bridge, Lancashire, on March 23rd.
Sir James, who was in his seventy-fifth year, was born in April, 1877, in Newton Stewart, Wigtownshire, and was educated at the Ewart High School. Following a year's study at the Glasgow and West of Scotland Technical College, James Callander became a premium pupil with the engineering firm of Fawcett Preston and Co., Ltd., of Liverpool, and continued his technical education at the Liverpool School of Science Technology.
Upon the completion of his training in 1898, he spent a short time as assistant mechanical superintendent of the Mersey Docks and Harbour Board before joining [Vickers|Vickers, Ltd.]], at Barrow-in-Fumess.
In 1903 he was appointed assistant chief draughtsman, which post he held until 1911, when he became works manager and as such he was responsible for the machinery installed in the battle cruisers "Lion" and "Princess Royal."
In course of time Sir James gradually assumed more and more responsibility and eventually rose to the position of general manager of the shipbuilding and engineering departments at Barrow and of the Naval Yard at Newcastle upon Tyne. He was appointed a director in 1936 and four years later became acting deputy chairman. His services to shipbuilding were recognised by his creation as a Knight Bachelor in 1941.
Sir James continued to be a member of the board of Vickers-Armstrongs, Ltd., until 1945, when he retired, but he remained a director of Vickers, Ltd., for a further two years.
He was a member of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers and of the Institution of Naval Architects, of which body he served as a Member of Council for fifteen years until 1950. He was also, for a period, a member of the technical committee of Lloyd's Register of Shipping.
1953 Obituary [3]
Sir JAMES CALLANDER, who died at his home at Newby Bridge, Lancashire, on 23rd March 1952, at the age of seventy-four, was formerly general manager and a director of Vickers-Armstrongs, Ltd.
He was educated at Glasgow, the West of Scotland Technical College, and Liverpool School of Science, Technology and Art.
On the completion of a four-year premium pupilage with Fawcett, Preston and Company, Ltd., Liverpool, in 1898, after passing through the shops and drawing office, he joined the staff of Vickers, Ltd., as a draughtsman. He was made assistant chief draughtsman five years later and, in 1911, was appointed works manager. In this capacity he was responsible for the production of all the marine machinery and large gas engines. He also designed and installed the machinery for the battle-cruisers Lion and Princess Royal.
He joined the board of directors of Vickers-Armstrongs in 1936 and during 1940 was acting deputy chairman. As general manager of the firm's shipbuilding and engineering works at Barrow-in-Furness and Newcastle upon Tyne he was in control of some 19,000 personnel.
Sir James retired in 1945 to spend a well-earned rest at his Lakeland country home at Newby Bridge. His retirement from the board of Vickers-Armstrongs marked the end of his long and active career, except that for a period he retained his seat on the board of Vickers, Ltd.
He had been a Member of the Institution since 1920 and was also a Member of the Institution of Naval Architects; in addition he was for many years a member of the Technical Committee of Lloyd's Register. He received a Knighthood in 1941.