William Fletcher (1848-1918)
William Fletcher (1848-1918), mechanical engineer, designer of traction engines and author of technical publications
1848 born on 23 April 1848, at West Stockwith, Nottinghamshire.
1863 Apprenticed with Marshall, Sons and Co, Gainsborough.
1870 Draughtsman with Alexander and Sons, Cirencester.
1872 Assistant manager and chief draughtsman with Wallis and Steevens, Basingstoke.
1873 Married Jessie Brown, daughter of a Baptist Minister, of Cirencester.
1874 Birth of first child, Lilian, at Basingstoke.
1877 Designed and tested Wallis and Steevens first traction engine.
1878 First book published: "Abuse of the steam jacket".
1878 Works manager with Charles Burrell and Sons, Thetford.
1878 Birth of 2nd child, Conrad, at St. Nicholas Works, Thetford.
1880 Chief draughtsman with Marshall, Sons and Co, Gainsborough.
1881 Birth of Fletcher’s 3rd child; a daughter Hilda, at Gainsborough.
1888 Chief draughtsman with Ransomes, Sims and Jefferies, Ipswich. Re-designed the company's traction engines and road locomotives.
1891 2nd book published: "The History and Development of Steam Locomotion on Common Roads".
1891 Lived in Ipswich[1]
1895 Re-print of book: "The Steam Jacket Practically Considered".
1897: Chief draughtsman with Clayton and Shuttleworth, Lincoln. Fletcher re-designed the company's steam traction engines and road locomotives.
1898 Publication of book: "A chapter in the history of the traction engine". Became a member of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers.
1900 of 128, West Parade, Lincoln
1900 Published article on the "Evolution of the Portable Engine".
1904 Publication of "English and American Steam Carriages and Traction Engines".
1906 Chief draughtsman with Davey, Paxman and Co, Colchester. Designed traction engines.
1910 Retired from active design work.
1911 Article "Evolution of the Geared Locomotive" published.
1918 Died at Cromer, Norfolk, on 22 December 1918, aged 70 years.
See Also
Sources of Information
- ↑ 1891 census