John Dewrance

Sir John Dewrance (13 March 18587 October 1937) was a British inventor and mechanical engineer.

Early life John Dewrance was born in 1858 at Peckham, London, the only son of pioneering locomotive engineer John Dewrance and his wife Elizabeth. Dewrance was educated at Charterhouse School before entering King's College, London, where he is said to have "paid special attention to chemistry".

Career In 1879 Dewrence took over the running of Dewrance & Co. Ltd from his father. The following year he took over the research laboratory and staff of Professor Frederick Barff, where he experimented on protecting iron from rust. Dewrance built a formidable body of research early in his career, focussing particularly on lubrication, metallurgy and corrosion; this was reflected in his stints as Chairman of the Alloys Research Committee, Research Advisory Committee, Cutting Tools Research Committee as well as the Finance and House Committee of the Institute of Mechanical Engineers. In 1889 he was elected Chairman of Babcock and Wilcox Ltd, and in 1914 Chairman of Deal and Walmer Coalfield Ltd and Kent Coal Concessions Ltd, holding all of these positions until his retirement in July 1937. Dewrance was engaged on Government contracts during the First World War, serving on committees of the Ministry of Munitions, the Ministry of Labour and the Treasury.

Personal life

The former Dewrance & Co. building is now a King's College hall of residence

Dewrance married Isabella Ann, granddaughter of inventor and mining engineer Richard Trevithick, in 1882. They had a son and a daughter.

Legacy Dewrance & Co. Ltd became a wholly owned subsidiary of Babcock & Wilcox Ltd following Dewrance's death in 1937.

The Sir John Dewrance prize is awarded to the two best mechanical engineering students each year at City, University of London.