Morton Beales (c.1871-1936)
1937 Obituary.[1]
Morton Beales, who died on the 10th December, 1936, at the age of 65, was born in Cambridgeshire, where his ancestors had resided for many generations. He was educated at Cranleigh School, and received his technical training at the Finsbury Technical College. After leaving college he entered Messrs. Ferranti's works at Charterhouse-square as an apprentice, and for some time acted as a junior assistant to Dr. S. Z. de Ferranti in some of that pioneer's experiments. Later he was attached to the switchgear department of Messrs. Ferranti, helping in the development and on the commercial side of the cellular (slate) type of switchgear. He left that firm in 1900 and joined Messrs. J. G. White and Co. as commercial engineer, at the time when Messrs. White were negotiating for the electrification of the London tramways system, which contract they ultimately secured. In 1902 he obtained an appointment with the British Westinghouse Co. and was engaged in the management side until 1905, when he was appointed by Messrs. Bruce Peebles to be general manager. In 1908 he joined in partnership with Mr. M. M. Gillespie, and continued to be actively interested in the firm of Messrs. Gillespie and Beales until his death. He was a man of high ideals, with a keen sense of duty, and by his friendly, genial character he gained many life-long friends. He joined The Institution as a Member in 1905.