William Cooper Penn (1852-1913)
1913 Obituary [1]
WILLIAM COOPER PENN was born at Pontypridd on 18th October 1852.
He served his time at Newbridge Engineering, Chain-Cable, and Anchor Works, Pontypridd, South Wales, from 1867 to 1872, and then assisted his father in the management of the same works until 1874.
In that year be commenced business on his own account in Cardiff as a mechanical engineer, having also a connection with collieries and coal-shipping companies, and from 1884 to 1888 he was principally engaged in laying out building estates.
In 1890 he started in London as a consulting engineer, and acted as representative for Messrs. Higginbottom and Mannock, crane and lift makers, and Messrs. Clay, Henriques and Co., engineers and ironfounders.
In association with Mr. Edward Perrett he took an active part in the design and construction of the latter's system of mechanical filtration, and they were also joint inventors of a steam water-lift.
His death took place in London after an illness of three weeks, on 9th March 1913, in his sixty-first year.
He was elected an Associate Member of this Institution in 1895, and was transferred to full Membership in 1901.