William Birt
Sir William Birt (1834-1911)
1911 Obituary [1]
SIR WILLIAM BIRT, formerly General Manager of the Great Eastern Railway Company, died at Hatfield on the 18th May, 1911, in his seventy-seventh year.
Joining the clerical staff of what was then the Eastern Counties Railway at the age of 14, he worked his way up to the position of chief of the goods department, succeeding the late Mr. Swarbrick as general manager in 1881. His 18 years tenure of that office was highly successful and advantageous to the company, and on his retirement be became a director. He was also a director and deputy-chairman of the Metropolitan Railway Company.
He received the honour of knighthood in 1897, and was also a Chevalier of the Belgian Order of Leopold.
In 1872 he married Constantia Mary, daughter of Mr. Matthew W. Thomas, who survives him.
Sir William Birt was elected an Associate of The Institution on the 19th May, 1885.