Thomas Cossor (1835-1921)
1922 Obituary [1]
THOMAS COSSER was born at Shieldykes, Northumberland, on 4th March 1835.
He received his early training at the Newcastle-on-Tyne works of Robert Stephenson, and in 1859 was appointed to superintend the erection of locomotives for the Sind Railway, then under construction, with headquarters at Karachi.
After nearly seven years with the Railway, he joined Mr. David McKenzie in partnership as engineering contractors. Among the early works undertaken by the firm may be mentioned the rebuilding of the Napier Barracks in stone, the Manora Lighthouse, and the Mereweather Pier, which was the first wharf to be erected in Karachi Harbour.
Many railway-building contracts were subsequently undertaken. Large workshops, consisting of machine shop, foundry, smithy, and carriage-building shop, together with the merchanting of machinery and metals comprise the present activities of the firm.
From a fishing village Karachi grew to be one of the three principal ports in India, during his 52 years' residence, and in its development he played a prominent part till his death on 22nd August 1921, at the age of eighty-six.
He became a Member of this Institution in 1881.