William Unwin facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
William Unwin
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| Born | 12 December 1838 Coggeshall, Essex
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| Died | 17 March 1933 (aged 94) |
| Nationality | English |
| Education | City of London School and New College London |
| Occupation | Engineer |
| Parent(s) | Eliza and William Jordon Unwin |
| Engineering career | |
| Discipline | Civil |
| Institutions | Institution of Civil Engineers (president), Institution of Mechanical Engineers (president) |
| Awards | Kelvin Gold Medal |
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William Cawthorne Unwin (born December 12, 1838 – died March 17, 1933) was a very important British engineer. He worked as both a civil and a mechanical engineer. He was known for his amazing work with hydraulics, which is about how water moves and is used for power. He also designed many engines.
Unwin worked closely with another famous engineer, William Fairbairn. He was one of the few people to lead both the Institution of Civil Engineers and the Institution of Mechanical Engineers. During the First World War, he helped the government as an engineering advisor. He was also the very first person to receive the Kelvin Gold Medal for his great contributions to engineering.
Contents
Early Life and Education
William Unwin was born in Coggeshall, Essex. His parents were Reverend William Jordon Unwin and Eliza Unwin. He went to the City of London School for his early education. After that, he studied for a year at New College in St John's Wood. Many universities at the time were not open to him because of his family's religious background.
Starting His Engineering Career
After finishing his studies, William Unwin started working for William Fairbairn in February 1856. He began as a clerk in Fairbairn's engineering company. His job was to test different materials and structures and write down the results. This helped him learn a lot about how things are built and how strong they are.
Working with Water Power
In 1862, Unwin became the works manager at Williamson Brothers. This was an engineering company in Kendal. There, he built water turbines. These turbines used the power of moving water to run machines in industrial mills.
Returning to Fairbairn's
Unwin returned to Fairbairn's company in 1865. He became the manager of their engine department. While working, he also studied in his free time. By 1861, he had earned a Bachelor of Science degree.
Teaching Engineering
In 1868, William Unwin started teaching. He lectured at the School of Marine Engineering and Naval Architecture in London. He also taught five courses on civil engineering to officers of the Royal Engineers. These classes were held at Brompton Barracks in Kent.
Professor at Coopers Hill
After his lectures, Unwin was chosen for an important job in 1872. He became a professor of hydraulic and mechanical engineering. This was at the Royal Indian Engineering College (Coopers Hill) in Surrey. He worked there for twelve years and also served as the dean of the college.
Important Books and Articles
In 1877, Unwin published one of his most famous books. It was called Elements of Machine Design. This book was very helpful for engineers. He also wrote the section on hydraulics for the Encyclopædia Britannica in 1881. This article was so good that many engineers wanted to read it.
Professor at City and Guilds College
In 1885, Unwin became a professor at the City and Guilds College. He taught civil and mechanical engineering there. When the college became part of the University of London in 1900, he was the first engineering professor there. He retired from teaching in 1904.
Big Engineering Projects
Between 1890 and 1893, Unwin helped with a huge project. He was the secretary for the team that installed hydroelectric power generators at Niagara Falls. This project was for the Niagara Falls Power Company. It created over 75 megawatts of electricity for the town of Buffalo. He continued to work as a consultant for the company during the building phase.
Other Water Projects
During this time, Unwin also advised on many other water projects. These included projects for the government of Western Australia and the New Jersey Water Company. He also worked on projects for the Derwent Valley Water Board. He helped with the Birmingham reservoirs and Lake Vyrnwy in Powys.
Testing Engines and Materials
In the 1890s, much of Unwin's work involved testing. He tested engines and boilers. At first, he focused on steam systems that used coal. Later, he tested internal combustion engines. These are the types of engines found in cars today.
He also studied how strong different metal mixtures (alloys) were. He used special equipment at the college that could test materials with 100 tons of force. From 1896 to 1900, he was part of a committee that looked into why steel rails lost their strength. He did many experiments for this committee.
Leadership and War Service
In November 1911, William Unwin was elected President of the Institution of Civil Engineers. He served for one year. In 1913, he led a committee that looked at how engineers should be trained. His ideas for professional development are still used today.
Helping During the War
During the First World War, Unwin offered his help to the government. He served on several committees for the Ministry of Munitions. These committees helped make sure that enough weapons and supplies were produced for the war effort. He also served as President of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers from 1915 to 1916.
Awards and Legacy
In 1921, William Unwin received the Kelvin Gold Medal. He was the very first person to get this award. Another famous engineer, Sir Alexander Kennedy, said that Unwin was one of the few professors who truly understood the practical side of engineering.
Even when he was 82 years old, Unwin remained dedicated to his profession. He attended a discussion about impact testing at the Institution of Civil Engineers. William Unwin passed away at his home in Kensington on March 17, 1933.
Honours
- 1886 Fellow of the Royal Society
- 1886 Honorary Associate of the Royal Institute of British Architects
- 1890 Honorary Member of the American Philosophical Society
- 1890 Honorary Member of the Franklin Institute
- 1892 President of the Engineering Section of the British Association
- 1894 Member of the Council of the Royal Society
- 1896 James Watt Memorial Lecture (Unwin chose to speak about the life of Gustave-Adolphe Hirn)
- 1905 Honorary Doctor of Laws from the University of Edinburgh
- Honorary Member of the American Society of Civil Engineers
- Honorary Member of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers
