John William Howard
John William Howard (1856-1912)
of 78 Queen Victoria Street, London, E.C.
1912 Obituary [1]
JOHN WILLIAM HOWARD was born at South Hampstead, London, on 25th June 1856, and was educated at University College School and King's College, London.
In 1874 he began an apprenticeship at the Great Eastern Locomotive Works, Stratford, under the late Mr. William Adams, and passed through the various shops and drawing office. He also inspected the construction of new locomotives at the works of Messrs. Kitson and Co., and other builders.
In 1881 he joined the firm of Messrs. John Spencer and Son, Ltd., of Newburn Steel Works, Newcastle-on-Tyne, as their representative in London.
He was afterwards with Mr. Josiah McGregor, whom he assisted in the designing and construction of light draught steamers for India, South America, and other countries.
In 1894 he became assistant general manager of the Gloucester Carriage and Wagon Co., and on the retirement of Mr. Alfred Slater in 1904 he was appointed general manager of that company, which position he occupied until July 1911, when he resigned owing to ill-health.
During the time he was in Gloucester very important alterations and additions were made to the Wagon Co.'s extensive works, making them one of the finest in the country.
In October 1911 he sailed with Mrs. Howard for New Zealand, intending to take a prolonged trip round the world, but his death took place at Auckland on 14th August 1912 at the age of fifty-six.
He became a Member of this Institution in 1882.
1912 Obituary [2]
JOHN WILLIAM HOWARD died in New Zealand on August 14, 1912, following an attack of influenza. He was a native of Hampstead, and was educated at University College School and King's College, London, received his early training in the locomotive and carriage shops of the Great Eastern Railway Company at Stratford, and was afterwards engaged in the steel business of Messrs. John Spencer and Son, Newcastle-on-Tyne.
For twelve years he was chief assistant in the office of Mr. Josiah Macgregor, naval architect and contractor, who was formerly chief constructor at Calcutta under the Government of India.
He was appointed assistant manager to the Gloucester Wagon Company in 1894, and ten years later succeeded Mr. Alfred Slater as general manager on the latter's retirement owing to ill-health.
In the early part of 1911 he resigned the appointment upon medical advice, consequent upon prolonged ill-health, and shortly afterwards proceeded to New Zealand in order to recuperate. Mr. Howard, who was a member of the Institute of Mechanical Engineers, was for five years president of the Gloucester Chamber of Commerce.
He was elected a member of the Iron and Steel Institute in 1906.