William Charles Copperthwaite
William Charles Copperthwaite (1861-1927) Civil Engineer. M Inst C.E.
1927 Obituary[1]
"THE LATE MR. W. C. COPPERTHWAITE.
We note with regret the death of Mr. William Charles Copperthwaite, which occurred at his home, 43, Fairfield-road, Old Charlton, London, S.E.7, on January 29. Mr. Copperthwaite, who had been associated with the London County Council for over twenty years, and who had latterly held the post of chief assistant engineer to the Council, was born on March 7, 1861. In 1877, at the age of 16, he became a pupil of Mr. H. Copperthwaite, M.Inst.C.E.
In 1882, the young engineer received an appointment under Mr. J. E. Harrison, A.I.Inst.C.E., and, during the years which followed, he was engaged upon railway construction works in England. Mr. Copperthwaite proceeded to Mexico in 1888 to take up the appointment of assistant resident engineer on the Interoceanic Railway.
During the years from 1889 to 1895 he acted as resident engineer and manager of the Santa Marta Railway. Returning to this country in 1895, he joined the staff of Sir John Fowler, Sir B. Baker, and Mr. Greathead, M.M.Inst.C.E., who at that time were engaged on the construction of the Central London Railway. He was given charge of the works in connection with the railway from Marble Arch to the Bank of England. In May, 1899, Mr. Copperthwaite was appointed resident engineer on the Greenwich footway-tunnel works. Some years later he joined the staff of the London County Council as assistant engineer ; he was promoted to the rank of chief assistant engineer in 1914, and held this position until a short time before his death. Mr. Copperthwaite became an associate member of the Institution of Civil Engineers on May 19, 1896, and was elected to full membership on February 27, 1900 In November, 1902, he was awarded a Telford Premium by the Institution of Civil Engineers, for his paper on “ The Greenwich Footway Tunnel,” and in November. 1907, he also received a George Stephenson Gold medal for his paper on “Vauxhall Bridge, 1906.”