Henry Beyer Robertson
Sir Henry Beyer Robertson (4 May 1862, Shrewsbury - 2 June 1948, Palé Hall) was the son of Henry Robertson, of Palé Hall, Llandderfel.
He was christened Henry Beyer Robertson in respect of his German born godfather, Charles Beyer, one of the leading locomotive designers of his day and co-founder of one of the worlds largest and most famous independent locomotive manufacturers, Beyer-Peacock, based in Gorton, Manchester. Beyer-Peacock was founded by three partners, Charles Beyer, Richard Peacock and Henry Robertson (Sir Henry's father). Sir Henry would also later become a director in the firm.[1]
He was educated at Shrewsbury School, Eton College, and Jesus College Cambridge.
Robertson served in the Royal Welsh Fusiliers from 1882 to 1883.[2][3] He was a director of the Great Western Railway. His father was the engineer of many of the railways in Wales which had been taken over by the GWR.[1]
He was the head of Brymbo Steelworks, and during the First World War ensured maximum production of iron and steel at Brymbo for munitions.[4] He rescued the works from bankruptcy in the 1931 following the Great Depression. He successfully negotiated a contract to supply steel to Rolls-Royce, for aero engine production, during Britain's rearming in response to Germany's growing military build up in the late 1930s.[5] His father had rescued the original Brymbo Ironworks (founded by John Wilkinson) in the 1840s, and introduce steel-making in the 1880s.
He was knighted in 1890 in recognition of his father's achievements,[6] appointed Deputy Lieutenant,[7] and nominated for Sheriff[8] for Merionethshire. His father had died in 1888, just prior to Queen Victoria's visit to Palé Hall in 1889, and it fell to Henry Beyer Robertson to play host. His mother Elizabeth (Dean) Robertson was still alive and living at Palé at the time. His mother died 14 March 1892.
His mother was Elizabeth Dean b 9th Dec 1821,(Bermondsey, Surrey), formerly of Brymbo Hall.
They had 7 children, 5 daughters, Jean b 1892, Mary 1893, Elizabeth 1894, Annie 1895, followed by 2 boys. Henry 1897, and Duncan 1900.[9]
References
- ^ a b Hills, R L (1982). Beyer, Peacock; Locomotive Builders to the world. Glossop, Derbyshire: The Transport Publishing Company, Glossop.
- ^ "No. 25084". The London Gazette. 14 March 1882.
- ^ "No. 25248". The London Gazette. 6 July 1883.
- ^ Palé Papers, National Library of Wales
- ^ "Wrexham Council website".
- ^ "No. 26070". The London Gazette. 15 July 1890.
- ^ "No. 26028". The London Gazette. 28 February 1890.
- ^ "No. 26106". The London Gazette. 14 November 1890.
- ^ Registry; BMD index