Robert Harwood
of Soho Iron Works, Bolton. - presumably Hick, Hargreaves and Co
1914 Obituary [1]
ROBERT HARWOOD was born at Tyldesley, Lancashire, on 26th January 1835.
He first served his time with a firm of land and colliery surveyors in Wigan, but not caring for the underground work he left them and went in 1852 to Messrs. Hick, Hargreaves and Co., of Bolton.
He next had charge of the engineering exhibits at the International Exhibition in London in 1862, and after this he spent some years at the Royal Arsenal, Woolwich, erecting machinery supplied by Messrs. Hick, Hargreaves and Co. He was also at Devonport Dockyard for some time in charge of erecting machinery for the same firm, and in 1870 was appointed head of the millwrights' department of the Works.
On the conversion of the firm into a limited liability company in 1893, he became a director, which office he held until his death.
On the completion of fifty years' service in 1902, he was presented with a handsome testimonial subscribed by the whole of the staff and workmen, and in 1905 he retired from active work. During his long and active life he travelled extensively for the firm, making two voyages round the world and repeated visits to Russia and other European countries.
His death took place at St. Anne's-on-Sea on 23rd January 1914, at the age of seventy-nine.
He was elected a Member of this Institution in 1878.