Charles Mitchell
Encyclopedia
Dr. Charles Mitchell was an Aberdonian
who founded major shipbuilding yards on the Tyne. He became a public benefactor who funded notable buildings that still survive today.
ship in London, he became a ship designer working for John Coutts
' Newcastle-upon-Tyne
yard in 1842. He became a shipbuilder in his own right at the Low Walker yard on the Tyne in 1852, which joined in partnership with the Armstrong yard to form Armstrong Mitchell in 1882.
From 1857 he built ships for Russia and in 1862 he set up shipyards in St Petersburg. He received a diamond studded snuff box worth 3,000 guineas and a national decoration for his work for Russia.
He was a benefactor of the University of Aberdeen
after whom the Mitchell Tower (1895) and Mitchell Hall are named. His university conferred on him an Ll.D. degree.
He was decorated with the Imperial Order of St Stanislaus, 2nd class (normal for foreign nationals), which may be seen in the coat of arms over the door of Jesmond Towers. Jesmond Towers, until 2008 the La Sagesse
School, is a gothic revival
building that was built in several stages in the nineteenth century. The main work is by the Newcastle architect John Dobson
. In 1871, Mitchell was among those greeting the High Admiral, Grand Duke Konstantin
at Newcastle Central station
, after which the party drove on to Jesmond Towers. The Russian guests had come to visit the Low Walker yard and have a quick tour of the river.
In 1887 Mitchell commissioned the art nouveau
church of St George, Jesmond
from Thomas Ralph Spence (1848-1918), secretary of the Newcastle Arts Association. The building is tall and dramatic inside and of excellent workmanship throughout (commented upon by George Bernard Shaw
on his visit in the 1890s). The stained glass is especially fine, and the mosaic figures were designed by Mitchell's own son, C.W. Mitchell. The Lewis organ was originally provided with air by two powerful hydraulic engines supplied by Mitchell's neighbour in Jesmond Dene, Baron Armstrong
. In Jesmond
he gave the land from the Jesmond Towers estate and £30,000 for the construction of the art nouveau St George's church (1888).
Until his death at the age of 75 he directed the ship building activities of Sir W.G. Armstrong, Mitchell and Co. In 1897, after he died, the firm became Armstrong Whitworth
which is now part of Rolls Royce plc and BAE Systems
.
Aberdeen
Aberdeen is Scotland's third most populous city, one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas and the United Kingdom's 25th most populous city, with an official population estimate of ....
who founded major shipbuilding yards on the Tyne. He became a public benefactor who funded notable buildings that still survive today.
Career
He attended Aberdeen University. After an engineering apprenticeEngineering apprentice
An engineering apprenticeship is an apprenticeship in mechanical engineering or electrical engineering. A typical example is the apprenticeships formerly available at the BTH and EEC at Rugby in England...
ship in London, he became a ship designer working for John Coutts
John Coutts
John Henry Sangster Coutts was a Scottish shipbuilding pioneer who built the first full-size iron ship and the first double bottomed ship.-Career:...
' Newcastle-upon-Tyne
Newcastle upon Tyne
Newcastle upon Tyne is a city and metropolitan borough of Tyne and Wear, in North East England. Historically a part of Northumberland, it is situated on the north bank of the River Tyne...
yard in 1842. He became a shipbuilder in his own right at the Low Walker yard on the Tyne in 1852, which joined in partnership with the Armstrong yard to form Armstrong Mitchell in 1882.
From 1857 he built ships for Russia and in 1862 he set up shipyards in St Petersburg. He received a diamond studded snuff box worth 3,000 guineas and a national decoration for his work for Russia.
He was a benefactor of the University of Aberdeen
University of Aberdeen
The University of Aberdeen, an ancient university founded in 1495, in Aberdeen, Scotland, is a British university. It is the third oldest university in Scotland, and the fifth oldest in the United Kingdom and wider English-speaking world...
after whom the Mitchell Tower (1895) and Mitchell Hall are named. His university conferred on him an Ll.D. degree.
He was decorated with the Imperial Order of St Stanislaus, 2nd class (normal for foreign nationals), which may be seen in the coat of arms over the door of Jesmond Towers. Jesmond Towers, until 2008 the La Sagesse
La Sagesse
La Sagesse was a Roman Catholic private school in the suburb of Jesmond, Newcastle upon Tyne, England. The school closed in 2008.-History:In 1715, in La Rochelle, France, Marie Louise Trichet co-founded the Filles de la Sagesse which, after a rather rapid expansion, is now 300 years old and...
School, is a gothic revival
Gothic Revival architecture
The Gothic Revival is an architectural movement that began in the 1740s in England...
building that was built in several stages in the nineteenth century. The main work is by the Newcastle architect John Dobson
John Dobson (architect)
John Dobson was a 19th-century English architect in the neoclassical tradition. He became the most noted architect in the North of England. Churches and houses by him dot the North East - Nunnykirk Hall, Meldon Park, Mitford Hall, Lilburn Tower, St John the Baptist Church in Otterburn,...
. In 1871, Mitchell was among those greeting the High Admiral, Grand Duke Konstantin
Grand Duke Konstantin Nikolayevich of Russia
Grand Duke Konstantin Nikolayevich of Russia was the second son of Tsar Nicholas I of Russia.During the reign of his brother Alexander II, Konstantin was an admiral of the Russian fleet and reformed the Russian Navy. He was also an instrumental figure in the emancipation of the serfs...
at Newcastle Central station
Newcastle railway station
Newcastle railway station , is the mainline station of the city of Newcastle upon Tyne, England and is a principal stop on the East Coast Main Line. It opened in 1850 and is a Grade I listed building...
, after which the party drove on to Jesmond Towers. The Russian guests had come to visit the Low Walker yard and have a quick tour of the river.
In 1887 Mitchell commissioned the art nouveau
Art Nouveau
Art Nouveau is an international philosophy and style of art, architecture and applied art—especially the decorative arts—that were most popular during 1890–1910. The name "Art Nouveau" is French for "new art"...
church of St George, Jesmond
Jesmond
Jesmond is a residential suburb and is split into two electoral wards just north of the centre of Newcastle upon Tyne, England. The population is about 12,000. It is adjacent to, and to the east of, the Town Moor, providing pedestrian and cycle paths to Spital Tongues and the city's two Universities...
from Thomas Ralph Spence (1848-1918), secretary of the Newcastle Arts Association. The building is tall and dramatic inside and of excellent workmanship throughout (commented upon by George Bernard Shaw
George Bernard Shaw
George Bernard Shaw was an Irish playwright and a co-founder of the London School of Economics. Although his first profitable writing was music and literary criticism, in which capacity he wrote many highly articulate pieces of journalism, his main talent was for drama, and he wrote more than 60...
on his visit in the 1890s). The stained glass is especially fine, and the mosaic figures were designed by Mitchell's own son, C.W. Mitchell. The Lewis organ was originally provided with air by two powerful hydraulic engines supplied by Mitchell's neighbour in Jesmond Dene, Baron Armstrong
William George Armstrong, 1st Baron Armstrong
William George Armstrong, 1st Baron Armstrong CB, FRS was an effective Tyneside industrialist who founded the Armstrong Whitworth manufacturing empire.-Early life:...
. In Jesmond
Jesmond
Jesmond is a residential suburb and is split into two electoral wards just north of the centre of Newcastle upon Tyne, England. The population is about 12,000. It is adjacent to, and to the east of, the Town Moor, providing pedestrian and cycle paths to Spital Tongues and the city's two Universities...
he gave the land from the Jesmond Towers estate and £30,000 for the construction of the art nouveau St George's church (1888).
Until his death at the age of 75 he directed the ship building activities of Sir W.G. Armstrong, Mitchell and Co. In 1897, after he died, the firm became Armstrong Whitworth
Armstrong Whitworth
Sir W G Armstrong Whitworth & Co Ltd was a major British manufacturing company of the early years of the 20th century. Headquartered in Elswick, Newcastle upon Tyne, Armstrong Whitworth engaged in the construction of armaments, ships, locomotives, automobiles, and aircraft.-History:In 1847,...
which is now part of Rolls Royce plc and BAE Systems
BAE Systems
BAE Systems plc is a British multinational defence, security and aerospace company headquartered in London, United Kingdom, that has global interests, particularly in North America through its subsidiary BAE Systems Inc. BAE is among the world's largest military contractors; in 2009 it was the...
.
Sources
- Obituary in The Times, Monday, Aug 26, 1895; pg. 7
- Swan Hunter History