Albert Vickers (1838-1919)
1838 September 16th. Born in Sheffield the son of Edward Vickers and his wife Ann Naylor. See Vickers Genealogy
1841 Living at Weston Bank, Eccleshall Bierlow, Sheffield: Edward Vickers (age c37), a Merchant. With his wife Ann Vickers (age c37) and their children George N. Vickers (age c10), Thomas Edward Vickers (age c7), Sarah Ann Vickers (age c5), Albert Vickers (age 2 years 6 months), and Frederic Vickers (3 months). Three servants.[1]
1854 He had joined the firm of Naylor, Vickers and Co, gaining experience in the American market
1865 Albert Vickers, Naylor and Vickers, Don Steel Works, Sheffield.[2]
1871 Living at 67 Inverness Terrace, Paddington: Albert Vickers (age 32 born Sheffield), a Steel Manufacturer - Works in Sheffield. With his wife Helen Vickers (age 30 born Sheffield) and their children Allie Vickers (age 9 born Sheffield); Edward Vickers (age 7 born Sheffield); Maud Vickers (age 6 born Sheffield). Five servants.[3]
1881 Living at Goldicott House, Alderminster, Worcs: Edward Vickers (age 77 born Sheffield), a Retired Steel Manufacturer. With his wife Ann Vickers (age 77 born Sheffield) and their daughter Gertrude Vickers (age 36 born Sheffield); and their son-in-law William Grazebrook (age 35 born Stourbridge), No Occupation; their daughter Isabella Grazebrook (age 34 born Sheffield); their grand-son George W. Grazebrook (age 4 born Alderminster); their grand-daughter Gertrude Grazebrook (age 2 born Alderminster); their son Albert Vickers (age 43 born Sheffield), a Steel Manufacturer; and their daughter-in-Law Edith Vickers (age 27 born Sheffield); their grand-daughter Almyra Vickers (age 19 born Sheffield); their grand-daughter Edith D. Vickers (age 3 born Teddington, Mddx); their grandson Vincent Vickers (age 2 born Teddington, Mddx). Twelve servants.[4]
1901 Living at 14 Cardogan Square, Chelsea: Albert Vickers (age 62 born Sheffield), a Manager and Director of Steel Ordnance Works. With his wife Edith Vickers (age 47 born Laughton, Yorkshire)and daughter Izmek Vickers (age 15 born Lewington, Sussex). Eleven servants and a visitor.[5]
1909 Age 71. Albert took over as chairman of Vickers from his brother Thomas and held the post until 1918.
1919 Age 81. Albert Vickers died at Compton Place, Eastbourne, Sussex, on 12 July 1919 and was buried at Hascombe church, Surrey
1919 Obituary [6]
ALBERT VICKERS was born in Sheffield on 16th September 1838.
He was educated at Sheffield and at Hameln-on-the-Weser, and entered his father's works at Millsand, near Sheffield, in 1854, where his brother, the late Colonel T. E. Vickers, was in charge.
Shortly afterwards he proceeded to the firm's offices at Boston, U.S.A., in order to gain experience of their American trade, but owing to the closing of the business because of the financial crisis, be returned to Sheffield in 1857.
The old works proving too small, the River Don Works were constructed in 1863-4, and the two brothers began that close association — the one a great metallurgist and the other a great commercial force — which has so greatly influenced the destinies of the Company.
In 1883 Sir (then Mr.) Hiram Maxim introduced to Mr. Vickers a proposal for making a gun to load and fire itself, with the result that the Maxim Gun Company, with Mr. Vickers as chairman, was formed in 1884, and amalgamated with the Nordenfeldt Company in 1888.
The Vickers Company, who had already started manufacture of heavy guns and armour, absorbed the joint concern in 1896, and in the following year purchased the Naval Construction Company with their shipyard and engine works at Barrow-in-Furness, the object being to carry out the policy enunciated by Mr. Albert Vickers of enabling the firm to complete a warship for service within their own organization.
About 1901 they formed the Electric and Ordnance Accessories Co. (now known as Wolseley Motors, Limited) to carry on special branches of the Company's work.
In 1903 there was acquired a part share of the Chilworth Powder Works, and in 1906 of the Whitehead Torpedo Works.
Mr. Albert Vickers succeeded his brother as chairman of Vickers, Ltd. (the name ultimately adopted) in 1909, having been a managing director for many years. He resigned the chairmanship on his eightieth birthday in 1918.
For his services to foreign countries he was awarded several decorations, including the Knight Grand Cross of the Order of Naval Merit of Spain and the Order of the Rising Sun of Japan.
His death took place at Eastbourne on 12th July 1919, in his eighty-first year.
He became a Member of this Institution in 1865, and he was an Associate of The Institution of Civil Engineers and of the Institution of Naval Architects.
See Also
Sources of Information
- ↑ 1841 Census
- ↑ 1865 Institution of Mechanical Engineers
- ↑ 1871 Census
- ↑ 1881 Census
- ↑ 1901 Census
- ↑ 1918 Institution of Mechanical Engineers: Obituaries
- [1] DNB