Biographical entry Armstrong, Sir William (1810 - 1900)

1st Baron Armstrong, CB, FRS

Born
1810
Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom
Died
27 December 1900
Rothbury, Northumberland, United Kingdom
Occupation
Industrialist

Summary

Sir William Armstrong was the industrialist behind the success of the Armstrong Whitworth and Vickers-Armstrong manufacturing empires.

His business, established as W.G. Armstrong and Co in 1847, manufactured hydraulic cranes and machinery, steel bridge components and armaments.

Between 1853 and 1900 the company produced at least 100 hydraulic cranes per year.

The company and its successor Armstrong Whitworth produced many significant warships on Royal Commission as well as manufacturing many of the engines and hydraulic accumulators for London's Tower Bridge.

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Details

Chronology

1845
Career event - Proposed and adapted the first hydraulic crane.
1846
Award - Elected a member of the Royal Society
1847
Career event - Established W.G. Armstrong and Company to manufacture hydraulic cranes and other equipment.
1855
Career event - W.G. Armstrong and Co. completed construction of the Inverness Bridge
1859
Award - Received knighthood from Queen Victoria
1859
Career event - Donated his patent for the Armstrong gun to the British Army
c. 1860
Career event - Established Elswick Armaments Ordinancy
c. 1860
Career position - Appointed Engineer of Rifled Ordnance to the War Department, British Army
1864
Career event - Elswick Armaments Ordinancy and W.G. Armstrong and Company merge to become Sir W.G. Armstrong and Company
1868
Career event - First ship launched, the gunboat HMS Staunch
1882
Career event - Merged with shipbuilder Charles Mitchell to make Sir William Armstrong, Mitchell and Co. Ltd
1884
Career event - Established a shipyard dedicated to warship production, Elswick
1887
Career event - Produced first battleship at Elswick yard, HMS Victoria
1897
Career event - Merged with the company of Joseph Whitworth to form Sir W.G. Armstrong, Whitworth & Co Ltd

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Published resources

Journal Articles

  • 'Lord Armstrong on Naval Defence', The Engineer, vol. 66, 5 October 1888, p. 287. Details
  • Bastable, M. J., 'From breechloaders to monster guns: Sir William Armstrong and the invention of modern artillery, 1854-1880', Technology and Culture, vol. 2, 38517, pp. 213-247. Details

Online Resources

Sources used to compile this entry: Stafford M. Linsley, 'Armstrong, William George, Baron Armstrong (1810-1900)', in Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford University Press, 2004, http://www.oxforddnb.com/view/article/669.

Prepared by: Rebecca Rigby