Perceval M. Parsons: Difference between revisions

Parsons was a son of John Parsons of [[Scraptoft]], [[Leicestershire]], and was born in [[Stockwell]] in south London. Schooled privately in [[Shooter's Hill]], he displayed an aptitude for engineering and, from the age of 15, studied for two years at [[Portsmouth Dockyard]] before being articled to Messrs. [[John Braithwaite (engineer)|Braithwaite]] & MilnesMilner in London. In 1841, he was employed on railway engineering work by [[Peter Bruff]], working as a resident engineer on the [[Eastern Counties Railway]] until 1845. In 1846, Parsons was employed on engineering work by [[John Rennie the Younger|John Rennie]], engaged as superintendent of large fixed plant and machinery on the [[Eastern Union Railway]]. He then established his own engineering business in London in 1850, being mainly concerned with design and construction of railway fittings, patenting improved switches and axle-boxes.<ref name=Iron>Obituary: Perceval Moses Parsons, ''Iron and Steel Institute'', 1892. Reproduced in ''Grace's Guide to British Industrial History'': [https://www.gracesguide.co.uk/Perceval_Moses_Parsons Perceval Moses Parsons]. Accessed: 6 November 2019.</ref><ref name=ICEobit>Obituary: Perceval Moses Parsons, ''Institution of Civil Engineers'', 1893. Reproduced in ''Grace's Guide to British Industrial History'': [https://www.gracesguide.co.uk/Perceval_Moses_Parsons Perceval Moses Parsons]. Accessed: 6 November 2019.</ref>

Parson's ordnance inventions included a system of inserting rifled steel tubes into old cast-iron guns, making previously unusable weapons serviceable. An initial trial by the Ordnance Committee in 1860 was not favourable, and Parsons, believing his invention had been rejected, let his 1855 patent lapse. However, in 1862, [[William Palliser]] patented an almost identical system of converting guns, and Parsons reasserted his claim to be the original inventor of the system, eventually, following an adjudication by [[Charles Hutton]], receiving £1,000 compensation from the [[War Office]].<ref name=Iron/><ref name=ICEobit/><ref name="LeClair">{{cite book |last1=LeClair |first1=Daniel R. |title=The British Military Revolution of the 19th Century: "The Great Gun Question" and the Modernization of Ordnance and Administration |date=2019 |publisher=McFarland |isbn=9781476674995 |page=166}}</ref>

In 1871 Parsons was appointed engineer to the [[Bessemer process|Bessemer Steel and Ordnance Co]], and supervised construction of new works at East Greenwich. During this time he started studying the use of metals generally, establishing a private mechanical laboratory at his home in [[Blackheath, London|Blackheath]]. His experiments led to the production of a better compound of [[copper]], [[tin]], [[zinc]] and [[lead]], called 'white brass', which was used for marine engines, and later 'manganese bronze' (combining ferro-manganese with bronze and brass alloys), which became extensively used in manufacture of ship propellers[[propeller]]s.<ref name=ICEobit/><ref name="Seaton">{{cite book |last1=Seaton |first1=Albert E |title=The Screw Propeller |date=2013 |publisher=BoD |isbn=9783954272730 |page=196}}</ref> Following an 1876 patent for manganese bronze, Parsons established his own company, P. M. Parsons, to produce the metal at St George's Wharf, in [[Deptford]]. On 28 June 1882, the [[Manganese Bronze Holdings|Manganese Bronze and Brass Co]] was incorporated and acquired Parsons' company, retaining Parsons as one of the directors.<ref name="PMP">{{cite web |title=P. M. Parsons |url=https://www.gracesguide.co.uk/P._M._Parsons |website=Grace's Guide to British Industrial History |accessdate=6 November 2019}}</ref>

Between 1851 and 1889 Parsons took out 52 patents, including 19 concerning artillery and related miltiarymilitary appliances, 11 concerning railway apparatus, and one relating to metallurgy.<ref name=ICEobit/> He was elected a Member of the [[Institution of Civil Engineers]] on 2 December 1873.<ref name=ICEobit/>

Parsons married Anne Jane Rexford (daughter of a school mistress running a school in Greenwich South Street)<ref name="Peninsula">{{cite web |title=Percival Moses Parsons – with a foundry in Banning Street |url=https://greenwichpeninsulahistory.wordpress.com/2014/12/15/percival-moses-parsons-with-a-foundry-in-banning-street/ |website=Greenwich Peninsula History |accessdate=6 November 2019}}</ref> at [[St Alfege Church, Greenwich]] on 20 August 1851; they subsequently had 11 children. He died from an attack of [[apoplexy]] on 5 November 1892 at his home, Melbourne House onat 136 Shooters Hill Road in Blackheath.,<ref name=Iron/><ref name=ICEobit/><ref name="Peninsula"/> and was buried in [[Greenwich Cemetery]] on 10 November 1892.<ref name="Grave">{{cite web |title=Perceval Moses Parsons |url=https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/115671332/perceval-moses-parsons |website=Find a Grave |accessdate=6 November 2019}}</ref> His wife died, aged 78, on 26 June 1905 and was also buried in Greenwich Cemetery.<ref name="Anne">{{cite web |title=Anne Jane Rexford Parsons |url=https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/115784361/anne-jane-parsons |website=Find A Grave |accessdate=24 January 2020}}</ref>