scientific meetings. He was president of the Geologists’ Association in 1896- 98, and president of the Palseontographical Society from 1921 to 1928. He was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society in 1893, and was awarded the Lyell Medal of the Geological Society in the same year. His charming personality, unassuming and kindly, caused him to be held in high esteem both by colleagues and friends ; and his helpful disposition will long be remembered by the younger generation who are indebted to him.

A. S. W.

Sir Alfred Fernandez Yarrow. 7

SIR ALFRED FERNANDEZ YARROW—1842-1932.

Alfred F ernandez Yarrow was born in London in 1842, and at a very early age gave evidence of the attraction which engineering held for him. So much was this the case that when quite a boy his schoolmaster said that he undoubtedly had talent for mechanics.

At thirteen, he was sent to University College School, and when between fifteen and sixteen years of age he was apprenticed to Ravenhill Salkeld and Co., Marine Engine Builders, where he went through the usual thorough training of that time. But in addition to his regular work it is recorded that he spent his leisure hours in study and work in his own workshop.

During this period he made friends with a boy named James Hilditch, who also had a strong mechanical bent. Between them they developed a number of original inventions and they took out several patents, including some relating to ploughing machinery which proved very successful. The actual ploughing machinery was made by Coleman and Sons, of Chelmsford, and young Yarrow soon became London representative of the firm.

About this time, Hilditch and Yarrow made a notable contribution to practical telegraphy by installing the first overhead telegraph line in London between their two homes.

These two young men had certainly a very wide range of interests, and not only worked at their special inventions, but they explored keenly the possi­bilities of the use of steam for road traction, and in 1861 their proposals were taken up by the late T. W. Cowan, at Greenwich.

They further showed their enthusiasm and knowledge of the value of con­certed action by starting, in company with others of like mind, a Civil and Mechanical Engineers Society, which numbered about 30 members; and Yarrow was the first Vice-President of the Society.

When Hilditch left London to join his father in the north of England, Yarrow started some small works on the Isle of Dogs, Poplar, in partnership with Mr. Hedley. This business, after a not very auspicious commencement, gradually

8 Obituary Notices.

developed into one of the most famous firms in the world. This wonderful development was entirely due to Yarrow, who by his unremitting energy and display of confidence and ability went from success to success, each step marking an advance in the art of engineering and the organisation of a great business.

In the early days of the firm its chief activities consisted of repairs to river craft. Not content with this, Yarrow soon devoted his attention to the question of improving the design and performances of steam launches. He steadily overcame all the early difficulties and losses, and soon the firm was on the high road to success.

In the period 1869-1875 (when the partnership with Hedley was terminated) no less than 350 small vessels of different types had been turned out.

It is not possible in a limited space, nor would it be fitting in a general account, to give the details of all the work carried out by Yarrow at this stage of his career; having fully developed the technique and best method of constructing river craft for business and pleasure, Yarrow turned his attention to the smaller types of war vessels, and in 1876 he produced his first specially designed torpedo boat, for the Argentine Fleet. This boat was closely followed by another one for the Netherlands Government.

Following this development the reputation of the Yarrow firm made such rapid strides that in 1877 Yarrow had under construction three vessels for the British Admiralty, two for France, two for Greece and two for Russia.

Benefiting by the experience gained in the design of river craft, the firm of Yarrow specialised in the supply of craft of small draught for inland waterways, and an order was placed for a shallow draught vessel for the Nyassa Mission. Other orders followed for gunboats for the same lake, also boats for the Congo and the Nile, all of which were sent out in sections and assembled after delivery —a method which demanded no little ingenuity in design, construction, trans­port and re-erection.

From 1878 to 1892 the design of torpedo boats underwent considerable alteration, a great increase in power and speed being the most noticeable features.

Two boats were designed and built for Russia in 1878, but were subsequently taken over by the British Admiralty. These had a speed of 21 knots, which was then a very high attainment. By 1892 the speed had increased to 27-3 knots, which was obtained by the “ Hornet ” as the result of the adoption of water- tube boilers, the highest speed previously reached being 26 • 1 knots by a sister- ship, the “ Havock,” equipped with locomotive type boilers. In 1894 Yarrow supplied a boat for the Russian Navy giving a speed of 30 knots.

It is interesting to note how speeds steadily rose with the later designs—the “ Lurcher ” in 1912 attaining 35 knots, while towards the end of the Great War the “ Tyrian ” steamed at close on 40 knots.

Alfred Yarrow was one of the first to carry out really systematic experiments

Sir Alfred Fernandez 9

and speed trials, and to realise the advantages of the adoption first of mild steel, and later high tensile steel and aluminium, by which means he was able to reduce the thickness of plating and weight of hull and fittings generally.

He devoted great attention to the design of high-speed reciprocating engines, and his name will always be remembered in connection with the method of balancing known as the Yarrow-Schlick-Tweedy system, which reduced vibration of the machinery. The development of the Yarrow straight tube water-tube boiler is well known to all marine engineers. The Yarrow boiler was very successful not only in destroyers but also in vessels of much greater displacement, in which the Yarrow boiler of more substantial construction and larger tubes was first fitted. Boilers of the Yarrow type have been installed in vessels of H.M. Navy to the extent of many hundred thousands of horse­power, and are now being widely adopted in the Mercantile Marine.

In 1907, owing to industrial difficulties, high rates and cost of labour, Yarrow decided after 40 years’ work at Poplar to transfer his works from the Thames to the Clyde ; and the following year the first destroyer was launched from the new Yard at Scotstoun.

Over the whole period boats of varying types were built, including several sternwheelers. Another development specially designed for river craft con­sisted of the tunnel and flap arrangement which gave such successful results in shallow waters. By this arrangement a screw propeller whose diameter considerably exceeds the draught of water in which the ship is running, works with efficiency. A very interesting working model of this method of propulsion was made, and can still be seen working at the firm’s premises.

The strong personality of Sir Alfred had a most marked effect in achieving success in all the torpedo boats, destroyers and other craft which were con­structed by his firm under his own supervision. Not only did the designs show originality and continuous improvement as a whole, but the details, both of the hull and fittings and machinery, always bore the mark of the greatest ingenuity and care ; not the smallest item escaped notice, with the result that a con­siderable amount of weight—a most important factor in the design of light craft—was saved and very efficient units produced.

This attention to detail, and the enormous capacity for taking pains, indica­tive of genius, was one of the chief characteristics of Sir Alfred’s m ind; and this bent of his intellect was no doubt the same which induced him to attach the utmost importance to research work, which demands qualities of identical character.

Holding these views, his love of research work certainly influenced him in his munificent gifts to industrial research.

First he presented the tank for testing ships’ models at the National Physical Laboratory. This tank has proved to be so useful that recently the Depart­ment of Scientific and Industrial Research, on the recommendation of the Committee of the National Physical Laboratory, decided to build a second

10 Obituary Notices.

tank for carrying out further research work on ship forms in water. The cost of the first tank, which was entirely defrayed by Yarrow, was £20,000. The whole of this portion of the Laboratory has now been renamed the William Froude Laboratory, and the tank presented by Sir Alfred Yarrow is now called the “ Alfred Yarrow Tank.” Up to the time of his death at the age of 90, Sir Alfred was a member of the Tank Advisory Committee of the National Physical Laboratory, which advises the Executive on all matters connected with the William Froude Laboratory.

In 1923 he made the still more generous donation of £100,000 to the Royal Society. With this, the Society created the Yarrow Fund to be used in the first instance for certain Royal Society Professorships known as “ Yarrow Professorships ” ; and it is a great satisfaction to all interested in these branches of scientific work that the name of such a munificent benefactor is for ever associated with his gifts.

These donations from a man who was essentially a practical shipbuilder and engineer, and most successful in all the work he undertook, emphasise the importance of research work for the development of science as adapted to industry.

In following the example of earlier generous donors to the cause of scientific investigation he showed his great wisdom and thus set a further example to be followed by those who come after.

Sir Alfred also gave generously to various charities, including convalescent homes for children, hospitals, training homes, and many other objects of his philanthropy; as well as making grants to the British Association and the Institution of Naval Architects for the endowment of scholarships.

Throughout his life he took the keenest interest in current events, naturally more particularly in those connected with engineering and shipbuilding, although his interests in other directions were very wide. Right to the end he was always delighted to discuss any new inventions or ideas relating to engineering.

When the Great War began he immediately presented himself at the Admiralty to offer his services, and in the late Lord Fisher he met a kindred spirit. Between them they very quickly arranged for the most rapid construction of more torpedo boat destroyers for the Navy, and more especially for the supply of some shallow draught gunboats for Mesopotamia. For these latter vessels Sir Alfred took complete responsibility; and although under Admiralty supervision, they were practically completed in every respect by the Yarrow firm and sent out to Mesopotamia—some as completed structures and some in parts for assembly there.

For his services he was awarded a Baronetcy in 1916.Sir Alfred Yarrow was made a Fellow of the Royal Society in 1922. He was

elected a Member of Council of the Institution of Naval Architects in 1887 and a Vice-President in 1896. He was a corporate member of the Institution of

Sir Alfred Fernandez . 11

Civil Engineers for 62 years ; and in 1929, as an appreciation of his contributions to the profession, he was made Honorary Life Member.

Besides being thoroughly versed in the technical side, whether theoretical or practical, Yarrow showed no less interest in the economical side, both as regards finance and also the relationship between employed and employer. He read a most interesting and able Paper on that aspect of Shipbuilding and Engineering at the Institution of Naval Architects in 1920, just when the post­war boom in shipbuilding was at its height; and showed wonderful foresight in predicting what would happen when trade languished and the demand for ships fell off. In the same paper he pointed out how much success in the engineering trades would depend upon scientific research.

Regarding the relationship between master and men, he always advocated much closer communion between the two, thus bringing about more sympathy and so inspiring mutual confidence. In all this he practised what he preached, and was continually going through the Works and having talks with foremen and men. He frequently invited working men to come and stay with him as guests at his house. He could then discuss matters with them and get a sure knowledge of the workers’ point of view. This friendliness with his men was well shown just after he received his baronetcy. One who then accompanied him through the workshops said that he spoke to some 500 workmen, shook hands, and called each one by his name.

As an indication of his strong vitality, within a year of his death he made an air tour of Europe ; and a few years before, he made the trip to British Columbia to visit the Yarrow Yard at Vancouver, which is managed by his second son. His third son was killed in action in 1915.

Sir Alfred was twice married, and had by his first wife three sons and three daughters. The eldest son, Harold E. Yarrow, C.B.E., who has charge of the Yarrow Establishment on the Clyde, succeeds to the title.

E. H. T. d’E.