Henry James Jackson (1824-1884)
1884 Obituary [1]
HENRY JAMES JACKSON was born in London on 5th September 1824.
In 1855 he went to India in charge of the engines in the steamship "Harbinger" for Messrs. W. S. Lindsay and Co., and remained there some four years.
On returning to England he was employed by Messrs. John Penn and Sons for several years as engineer in charge of their engines and machinery in the "John Penn," running between Dover and Calais; the vessel on many occasions made four trips in the twenty-four hours.
He was next appointed by Mr. Penn to be engineer in the steam yacht "Mahrousseh," built by Messrs. Samuda Brothers for the Viceroy of Egypt, and engined by Messrs. John Penn and Sous.
Afterwards he became chief engineer for the Viceroy, and was created a Bey.
On leaving that service he became superintending engineer to the General Steam Navigation Co., retaining this position until his death, which took place at Deptford on 2nd November 1884, at the age of sixty.
He devised an improved propeller, which has been adopted by many steamboat companies.
He became a Member of the Institution in 1876.
1885 Obituary [2]
HENRY JAMES JACKSON (Jackson Bey) was born in the year 1824, and at the age of sixteen entered the works of Messrs. Otway and Warmington, mechanical engineers, to whom he served an apprenticeship of seven years.
On completing his indentures he went in 1849 for two years to Sir Joseph Whitworth‘s works at Manchester. Having by this time attained a thorough acquaintance with the principles and practice of machinery, both in its manufacture and working, he entered the service of the North of Europe Steam-Navigation Company as engineer afloat, and subsequently was similarly occupied for Mr. W. S. Lindsay on a line of steamers to Calcutta. and China.
For ten years from 1854 Mr. Jackson was associated with the firm of John Penn and Son, Greenwich, in marine-engine work, and through their interest he in 1865 was appointed superintendent of the Egyptian Arsenal at Alexandria, and chief engineer of Khedive Ismail’s famous steam-yacht the ‘‘Mahroussa,” which was accounted the fastest steamer afloat. Leaving Egypt in 1874 Mr. Jackson was appointed superintendent engineer to the General Steam-Navigation Company, having responsible charge of the design and construction of ships and engines for a fleet of sixty four steamers, as well as the control of a factory employing five hundred hands. For this work his antecedents peculiarly fitted him, and during his tenure of the post he succeeded in bringing up the company’s fleet to a high state of efficiency.
He was still in his full career of usefulness, greatly honoured and respected by his fellow officers, when he succumbed to peritonitis on the 2nd of November, 1884, in the sixtieth year of his age. His unexpected death caused sincere regret among his neighbours at Deptford where he resided, and his remains were followed to the grave by a large number of employees and workmen of the company.
He was elected an Associate on the 4th of February, 1873, and transferred to the class of Members on the 14th of January, 1879.