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Who was William Armstrong?

Engineer, Inventor and industrialist.

Date and Place of Birth:

26th November 1810, Falconer Street, Shieldfield, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, England.

Family Background:

His father was the owner of a corn merchants business on the Newcastle Quayside but was particularly interested in Mathematics and Natural history and was a member of the Literary and Philosophical Society.

Education:

Articled to a Solicitor but became an Engineer instead.

Chronology/Biography of William Armstrong:

1840: Produced a much-improved hydraulic engine.

1842: Armstrong invented an apparatus for producing electricity from steam.

1845: He invented the hydraulic crane.

1847: Founded the Elswick Engine works at Newcastle-upon-Tyne which at first built cranes, bridges and engines but then went on to manufacture guns especially the “Armstrong” breach loading gun which was made up of separate coils of wrought iron.

1882: Shipbuilding was included at the factory.

1897: The firm amalgamated with Joseph Whitworth and Co.

(1927): Company merged again to become Vickers Armstrong Ltd.

Marriage:

1835 to Margaret Ramshaw.

Date and Place of Death:

27th December 1900, Cragside, Northumberland, England.

Age at Death:

90.

Site of Grave:

All Saints Church, Rothbury, Northumberland next to his wife. The Armstrong Memorial Cross was erected in 1902 outside the church by local people.

Places of Interest:

NORTHUMBERLAND:

Bamburgh Castle
Cragside House, Near Rothbury (National Trust)
Rothbury

Bamburgh Castle restored by Armstrong
(© Anthony Blagg)

NEWCASTLE:

The Literary and Philosophical Society

 

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