William Tritton
Encyclopedia
Sir William Ashbee Tritton, M.I.Mech.E.
, J.P.
(born 1875, London
; died September 1946, Lincoln
) was an expert in agricultural machinery, and was directly involved, together with Major Walter Gordon Wilson
, in the development of the tank. Early in the First World War he was asked to produce designs for caterpillar tracked tractors for moving naval guns, the result being eventually the first modern tanks.
He was the son of a London stockbroker, educated at Christ's College Finchley
and King's College London
. In 1906 he joined William Foster & Co. Ltd in Lincoln
, and from 1911 until 1939, he was chairman of the company, after which he became managing director.
In 1916 he married Isobel Grahame Gillies. He was knighted in 1917.
He died in Lincoln aged 70 in September 1946. Tritton Road in Lincoln is named after him and a blue plaque
is located at the entrance of a supermarket at the northern end of the road around the site of the original factories.
Institution of Mechanical Engineers
The Institution of Mechanical Engineers is the British engineering society based in central London, representing mechanical engineering. It is licensed by the Engineering Council UK to assess candidates for inclusion on ECUK's Register of professional Engineers...
, J.P.
Justice of the Peace
A justice of the peace is a puisne judicial officer elected or appointed by means of a commission to keep the peace. Depending on the jurisdiction, they might dispense summary justice or merely deal with local administrative applications in common law jurisdictions...
(born 1875, London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
; died September 1946, Lincoln
Lincoln, Lincolnshire
Lincoln is a cathedral city and county town of Lincolnshire, England.The non-metropolitan district of Lincoln has a population of 85,595; the 2001 census gave the entire area of Lincoln a population of 120,779....
) was an expert in agricultural machinery, and was directly involved, together with Major Walter Gordon Wilson
Walter Gordon Wilson
Major Walter Gordon Wilson was an engineer and member of the British Royal Naval Air Service. He was credited by the 1919 Royal Commission on Awards to Inventors as the co-inventor of the tank, along with Sir William Tritton....
, in the development of the tank. Early in the First World War he was asked to produce designs for caterpillar tracked tractors for moving naval guns, the result being eventually the first modern tanks.
He was the son of a London stockbroker, educated at Christ's College Finchley
Christ's College Finchley
Christ's College is a state comprehensive secondary school in East Finchley, London, United Kingdom. It falls under the London Borough of Barnet Local Education Authority. It is a boys' school up to and including Year 11, and the sixth form is mixed, admitting up to 25% girls. The school presently...
and King's College London
King's College London
King's College London is a public research university located in London, United Kingdom and a constituent college of the federal University of London. King's has a claim to being the third oldest university in England, having been founded by King George IV and the Duke of Wellington in 1829, and...
. In 1906 he joined William Foster & Co. Ltd in Lincoln
Lincoln, Lincolnshire
Lincoln is a cathedral city and county town of Lincolnshire, England.The non-metropolitan district of Lincoln has a population of 85,595; the 2001 census gave the entire area of Lincoln a population of 120,779....
, and from 1911 until 1939, he was chairman of the company, after which he became managing director.
In 1916 he married Isobel Grahame Gillies. He was knighted in 1917.
He died in Lincoln aged 70 in September 1946. Tritton Road in Lincoln is named after him and a blue plaque
Blue plaque
A blue plaque is a permanent sign installed in a public place to commemorate a link between that location and a famous person or event, serving as a historical marker....
is located at the entrance of a supermarket at the northern end of the road around the site of the original factories.