James Davidson (1836-1886)
James Davidson (1836-1886)
of the Engineering Works, Cumberland Street, Dunedin, Otago, New Zealand
1887 Obituary [1]
JAMES DAVIDSON was born in Edinburgh on 6th July 1836, and after having served for three and a half years at the works of Messrs. Robert Napier and Sons, Glasgow, he went to Canada, and served two years with Mr. John Gartshore, Dundas Foundry.
He was employed for two years by Messrs. Kinmond Brothers, locomotive builders, Montreal; and for two years on the Grand Trunk Railway at Point St. Charles, under Mr. Richard Eaton, locomotive superintendent.
For three years he worked the Coburg foundry and machine shops.
In 1865 he went to New Zealand, and in 1868 became proprietor of engineering works in Dunedin, Otago, which he carried on for some years in partnership with Mr. William Conyers.
At the time of his death he was acting as local managing director of the City of Dunedin Suburban Gas Company. He died on 28th December 1886, at the age of fifty.
He became a Member of this Institution in 1881.