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William Armstrong Fairburn

William Armstrong Fairburn (12 October 1876 – 1 October 1947) was an American writer, naval architect, marine engineer, industrial executive,[1] and chemist.[2]

William A. Fairburn.

Biography edit

He was the son of Thomas W. Fairburn and Elizabeth Jemima Frosdick,[3] who married in Leeds, Yorkshire, England, in 1867. Census information shows that Thomas worked as a ship fitter, then foreman at a ship yard in Braintree, Massachusetts. He made trips home to visit family still in Huddersfield, and his passport application (1923) shows that he was born in Hull, England in 1849, and that his father was another Thomas.

William was born in Huddersfield, England, 12 October 1876,[3] the 1891 census showing that he had already begun work as a "Post Office boy" by the age of 14. He emigrated in May 1891 from Liverpool to New York on the "S.S. Servia" with his mother Elizabeth, and sisters Alice and Annie, following his father who had emigrated the year before. He attended the public schools in Bath, Maine, became an apprentice, and by age 18 was a master mechanic. In 1896, he went to the University of Glasgow and studied naval architecture and marine engineering for a year.[4]

He returned home to work at Bath Iron Works where he built an all-steel freighter, the first in America. By 1900 he was an independent consultant. In this capacity, he met O. C. Barber and Edward R. Stettinius, Sr., at the Stirling Boiler Co. (later merged into Babcock & Wilcox).[4] They were also executives at the Diamond Match Company, and in 1909 they put Fairburn in charge of its operations in hopes of solving some problems it had encountered. In the 1910 census (Groton, Connecticut), Fairburn is shown as a naval architect.

A major problem at Diamond Match was the white phosphorus used in making matches which caused health problems for workers and poisoned children who ate the matches. Fairburn discovered company patents which provided an alternative, and, working with company chemists, by 1911 an improved match, which substituted sesquisulfide for the phosphorus, was introduced.[4]

At Diamond Match, Fairburn also discovered and worked out a chemical process for extracting potash from kelp. Owing to this discovery, the price of matches did not increase when the start of World War I shut off the old sources of potash supply. Fairburn later became president of the Diamond Match Company[2] in 1915, succeeding Stettenius.[4] In the 1930 census (Morris, New Jersey), he is shown as an executive in a match factory.

The Fairburn Marine Education Foundation, Inc., of Center Lovell, Maine, was established in his honor.

Writings edit

Fairburn published several dozen books in the early twentieth century concerned generally with sociology in the workplace, theories and speculations on human potentialities, and other topics. Among his works are:

  • Human Chemistry (1914)[5] This work describes workers as chemical elements in a well-stocked laboratory and handlers of people as chemists.
  • The Individual and Society (1915)
  • Man and his health; Liquids (1916)
  • Life and Work (1916)
  • Mentality and Freedom (1917)
  • The Diagnosis of the German Obsession (1918)
  • Organization and Success (1923)
  • Justice and Law (1927)
  • Russia, the Utopia in chains (1931)
  • Work and workers: Essays and miscellaneous writings (1933)

Family edit

He married Isabella Louise Ramsay (born 4 August 1878, Summerfield, Prince Edward Island, Canada) in September 1904.

References edit

  1. ^ Fairburn, William Armstrong & Ritchie, Ethel M. (1992), reprint. Merchant Sail: U. S. Woodshipbuilders and Shipbuilding Centers Through the 19th Century, Including Packets, Clippers, and Down Easters. Excerpt. Higginson Book Co. ISBN 0-8328-2456-9.
  2. ^ a b   Homans, James E., ed. (1918). "Barber, Ohio Columbus" . The Cyclopædia of American Biography. New York: The Press Association Compilers, Inc.
  3. ^ a b Census, immigration, vital records and passport applications, England and USA, for William Armstrong Fairburn, Thomas W. Fairburn, Jemima Elizabeth Frosdick and families at http://ancestry.com .
  4. ^ a b c d William A. Wagnon Jr. (1974). "Fairburn, William Armstrong". Dictionary of American Biography. Vol. Supplement Four (1946-1950). New York: Charles Scribner's Sons.
  5. ^ Fairburn, William, Armstrong (1914). Human Chemistry. The Nation Valley Press, Inc.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)

Further reading edit

  • Manchester, Herbert. (1940). William Armstrong Fairburn; a Factor in Human Progress. New York, N.Y., The Blanchard press.
  • Ingham, John N. (1983) Biographical Dictionary of American Business Leaders: Vol. 1, A-G ISBN 0-313-23907-X

william, armstrong, fairburn, october, 1876, october, 1947, american, writer, naval, architect, marine, engineer, industrial, executive, chemist, william, fairburn, contents, biography, writings, family, references, further, readingbiography, edithe, thomas, f. William Armstrong Fairburn 12 October 1876 1 October 1947 was an American writer naval architect marine engineer industrial executive 1 and chemist 2 William A Fairburn Contents 1 Biography 2 Writings 3 Family 4 References 5 Further readingBiography editHe was the son of Thomas W Fairburn and Elizabeth Jemima Frosdick 3 who married in Leeds Yorkshire England in 1867 Census information shows that Thomas worked as a ship fitter then foreman at a ship yard in Braintree Massachusetts He made trips home to visit family still in Huddersfield and his passport application 1923 shows that he was born in Hull England in 1849 and that his father was another Thomas William was born in Huddersfield England 12 October 1876 3 the 1891 census showing that he had already begun work as a Post Office boy by the age of 14 He emigrated in May 1891 from Liverpool to New York on the S S Servia with his mother Elizabeth and sisters Alice and Annie following his father who had emigrated the year before He attended the public schools in Bath Maine became an apprentice and by age 18 was a master mechanic In 1896 he went to the University of Glasgow and studied naval architecture and marine engineering for a year 4 He returned home to work at Bath Iron Works where he built an all steel freighter the first in America By 1900 he was an independent consultant In this capacity he met O C Barber and Edward R Stettinius Sr at the Stirling Boiler Co later merged into Babcock amp Wilcox 4 They were also executives at the Diamond Match Company and in 1909 they put Fairburn in charge of its operations in hopes of solving some problems it had encountered In the 1910 census Groton Connecticut Fairburn is shown as a naval architect A major problem at Diamond Match was the white phosphorus used in making matches which caused health problems for workers and poisoned children who ate the matches Fairburn discovered company patents which provided an alternative and working with company chemists by 1911 an improved match which substituted sesquisulfide for the phosphorus was introduced 4 At Diamond Match Fairburn also discovered and worked out a chemical process for extracting potash from kelp Owing to this discovery the price of matches did not increase when the start of World War I shut off the old sources of potash supply Fairburn later became president of the Diamond Match Company 2 in 1915 succeeding Stettenius 4 In the 1930 census Morris New Jersey he is shown as an executive in a match factory The Fairburn Marine Education Foundation Inc of Center Lovell Maine was established in his honor Writings editFairburn published several dozen books in the early twentieth century concerned generally with sociology in the workplace theories and speculations on human potentialities and other topics Among his works are Human Chemistry 1914 5 This work describes workers as chemical elements in a well stocked laboratory and handlers of people as chemists The Individual and Society 1915 Man and his health Liquids 1916 Life and Work 1916 Mentality and Freedom 1917 The Diagnosis of the German Obsession 1918 Organization and Success 1923 Justice and Law 1927 Russia the Utopia in chains 1931 Work and workers Essays and miscellaneous writings 1933 Family editHe married Isabella Louise Ramsay born 4 August 1878 Summerfield Prince Edward Island Canada in September 1904 References edit Fairburn William Armstrong amp Ritchie Ethel M 1992 reprint Merchant Sail U S Woodshipbuilders and Shipbuilding Centers Through the 19th Century Including Packets Clippers and Down Easters Excerpt Higginson Book Co ISBN 0 8328 2456 9 a b nbsp Homans James E ed 1918 Barber Ohio Columbus The Cyclopaedia of American Biography New York The Press Association Compilers Inc a b Census immigration vital records and passport applications England and USA for William Armstrong Fairburn Thomas W Fairburn Jemima Elizabeth Frosdick and families at http ancestry com a b c d William A Wagnon Jr 1974 Fairburn William Armstrong Dictionary of American Biography Vol Supplement Four 1946 1950 New York Charles Scribner s Sons Fairburn William Armstrong 1914 Human Chemistry The Nation Valley Press Inc a href Template Cite book html title Template Cite book cite book a CS1 maint multiple names authors list link Further reading editManchester Herbert 1940 William Armstrong Fairburn a Factor in Human Progress New York N Y The Blanchard press Ingham John N 1983 Biographical Dictionary of American Business Leaders Vol 1 A G ISBN 0 313 23907 X Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title William Armstrong Fairburn amp oldid 1186494808, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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