James Strachan
James Strachan (1860-1900)
1900 Obituary [1]
JAMES STRACHAN was born at Newbyth, Haddingtonshire, on 29th February 1860.
After receiving his education at Stenton School, Prestonkirk, and Daniel Stewart's College, Edinburgh, he was apprenticed in 1873 to Messrs. A. and W. Smith and Co., of the Eglinton Engine Works, Glasgow, and was employed for seven years in the workshops and drawing office.
On the dissolution of the firm he was engaged by Messrs. William Smith and Sons as draughtsman at the Partick Engine Works, Glasgow, with whom he remained one year.
In 1881 he was employed by Messrs. Mirrlees, Watson and Co., of Glasgow, in the design of pumping engines and of appliances used in sugar factories; and in 1882 was appointed by Messrs. Manlove, Alliott, Fryer and Co., of Nottingham, manager of their drawing office.
In 1886 he was sent by this firm to the West Indies to superintend the erection of sugar and other machinery; and in 1890 was appointed manager of an engineering works at Pernambuco, Brazil, where he remained about a year.
In 1894 he commenced business on his own account in London as consulting engineer, making a speciality of laundry and dyeing machinery. He was also engaged on the drainage of the City of Mexico.
For many years he had been in ill-health, and his death took place in London from diabetes on 16th May 1900, at the age of forty.
He became a Member of this Institution in 1888.