Institute of Marine Engineers
Tower Hill, London.
1888, November 9th, a number of marine engineers met in a room in the East End of London to consider the advisability of forming an institute of marine engineers. An organising committee was appointed consisting of Messrs James Adamson, D. Greer, J.G. Hawthorn, Robert Leslie, C. Noble, Matthew Prior, F. W. Shorey and J. H. Thomson.
A public meeting was held in the Workmen's Hall, Stratford, on February 12th 1889.
2000 copies of the circular written by James Adamson were distributed with promising response.
On December 7th 1888 the Institute was formerly constituted at a meeting of the committee and Mr James Adamson was elected as Hon. Secretary.
Mr. Asplan Beldam was elected as Chairman, and Mr. J. W. Domoney as Hon. Treasurer.
The objects of the institute were;
- To promote the science and practice of marine engineering in all its branches;
- To enable marine engineers to meet and to correspond, to facilitate the interchange of ideas respecting the improvements in, and original and improved methods of working machinery, and the publication and communication of information on such subjects.
- To maintain and improve the status of engineers and the profession of marine engineering, to afford facilities for education, study, and self-culture to marine engineers, and to promote their progressive advancement in a knowledge of their profession.
In May 1912 the Titanic Engineering Staff Memorial Fund was opened under the auspices of the Institute. The fund was used to support widows and orphans of members of engineering staff of any steamer or steamers.[1]
1921 Retiring president was Lord Weir, succeeded by Sir Joseph P. Maclay.[2]