Professor Sidney Howe Short (1858-1902), Engineer, Inventor and Electrician.
1858 Born. Second son of Mr. John Short, a manufacturer, Ohio.
1903 Obituary [1]
SIDNEY H. SHORT was born in Columbus, Ohio, U.S.A., in 1858, and received his early education in that city, afterwards passing in to the Ohio State University, where he graduated as a Bachelor of Science.
During two years he was a teacher of Physics and Electrical Engineering in the University in which he graduated, and was afterwards, for five years, Professor of Physics and Chemistry in the University of Colorado.
In 1885 he began to work at the construction of electric apparatus and the equipment of electric railways.
In 1889, in association with Mr. Brush, he formed and became President and Chief Engineer of, the Short Electric Railway Company of Ohio. He was also Chief Engineer of the Brush Electric Company of Cleveland, Ohio.
In 1892 the Short Electric Company was merged in the General Electric Company of America, and Professor Short became a member of the Technical Board of this Company.
In 1893, however, he left to take up the position of Vice-president and Chief Engineer of the Walker Company of Cleveland, which manufacturing generators and motors of his design, rapidly developed, and was in 1898 absorbed by the Westinghouse Company.
Professor Short then came to England, where he joined the English Manufacturing Company as Technical Director, and arranged for the erection of the Preston Works, which were soon in a position to commence work. All too soon afterwards he succumbed to an attack of appendicitis.
Professor Short was a prolific inventor, and was well known by his writings. His loss will be keenly felt not only by those who had the privilege of his friendship, but by many to whom he was known only by fame.
He was elected a Member of the Institution on the 10th of January, 1901, and was a valued member of the Committee on Traction, Light and Power Distribution.
1902 Obituary [2]
1902 Obituary.[3]