Leonidas Knowles
Leonidas Knowles (1877-1948)
1949 Obituary [1]
"LEONIDAS KNOWLES, whose death occurred on 23rd August 1948, was elected an Associate Member of the Institution in 1909 and was transferred to Membership in 1912.
He was born in 1877 and received his general education at the Manchester Grammar School. His apprenticeship was served with Messrs. Beyer Peacock and Company, Ltd., from 1892 to 1895, and during that period he attended classes at the Municipal Technical College in Manchester. After gaining experience as an erector with Messrs. Laird Brothers, of Birkenhead, he served at sea as marine engineer from 1897 to 1900 and obtained an extra first class Board of Trade Certificate.
He then filled various short appointments including that of leading draughtsman to the Manchester Ship Canal Co. In 1906 he began to practise on his own account as a consulting engineer in Manchester, specializing in power installations and the construction of factory buildings. In addition he held the post of resident engineer to the University of Manchester and was responsible for the construction and equipment of new engineering laboratories. His work in this direction was interrupted by the war of 1914-18 when he served for four years in the R.F.C. and R.A.F. with the rank of lieutenant, being officer in charge of the drawing office, engine repair shops, in France. In 1940 Mr. Knowles gave up his practice and became attached to the Ministry of Supply as civilian inspecting officer at the Royal Ordnance Factory, Newport, Monmouthshire."