Alfred Morcom

GEDCOM Note

1884 Marine engineer, Alfred Morcom invited by Belliss to join G. E. Belliss and Co as partner. Morcom had previously been chief engineer at Sheerness Dockyard; before that he had been an instructor in the Navy's steam department at Portsmouth and was "one of the few engineers to gain a first class certificate at College. MR. ALFRED MORCOM. died on 17th October 1905

We greatly regret to record the death of Mr. Alfred Morcom, chairman of thewell-known firm of Bellis and Morcom which took place yesterday at his residence,Trelawne, Augustus Road, Edgbaston, after a short illness. Mr. Morcom was but 57 years of age. He was born in the Isle of Man, but hisparents were Cornish (James Morcom and Elizabeth Bawden), and he was educatedat the Tavistock Grammar School, Devonshire. From school he passed into Keyhamas an engineering student in 1863, and four years later, he became a student atthe Royal School of Naval Architecture, which is now merged in the Royal NavalCollege, Greenwich. After a brilliant college career Mr. Morcom left in 1871first of his year, with first-class fellowship and honours in mathematics andseveral other subjects. In the same year he was appointed first assistantengineer on H.M.S. Bellerephon but a few months later he was recalled from Vigoby the Admiralty in order that he might accompany H.M.S. Challenger upon herfamous expedition to sound the depths, map the basins, and determine thephysical and biological conditions of the Atlantic, the Southern, and thePacific Oceans. Mr. Morcom was specially selected to make observations in wavesand ship rolling for the purpose of verifying the mathematical theories adoptedby the Admiralty. Professor Wylie Thompson, the head of the scientific staff onthe Challenger, however, objected to the appointment of an Admiralty officialon his staff for such a purpose, and Mr. Morcom was consequentially deprived ofthe honour of taking part in the expedition. He was transferred to H.M.S.Jumna, an Indian troopship, upon which vessel he obtained useful experiencewith what were then new types of machinery. In 1874 he was appointed assistantto the Engineer-in-Chief of the Navy and lecturer on marine engine design atthe Royal Naval College, Greenwich. Three years afterwards, at the age oftwenty-nine, he became assistant to the chief engineer at Portsmouth Dockyard,and on the death of the chief engineer he was promoted to that position for ayear to complete the arrangements in connection with the transport and warshipsfor the Egyptian expedition and bombardment of Alexandria. Then he was sent inthe same capacity to the dockyard at Sheerness, where he rendered conspicuousservice to the Admiralty and the nation.

It was during his official connection with the Government at Portsmouth andSheerness that Mr. Morcom became interested in the work of Mr. G.E. Belliss,the founder of the well-known marine engineering firm in Ledsam Street,Birmingham. At that time Mr. Belliss was chiefly engaged in the construction ofsteam pinnaces and launches for the navy, and after remaining at Sheerness fiveor six years Mr. Morcom, in 1884, decided to leave the Government service andjoin Mr. Belliss in partnership. From that time the business of the firm ofBelliss and Morcom was largely developed. Under Mr. Morcom's supervision themachinery for torpedoes as well as for torpedo-boats and torpedo-boatdestroyers, was added, and in 1890 practically a new industry was commenced,consisting of the manufacture of high-speed engines for electric generatingpurposes. The firm in 1893 was converted into a private company, Mr. Bellissbecoming the chairman and Mr. Morcom the managing director. Then in 1904, whenMr. Belliss retired from the activities of a business life, Mr. Morcomsucceeded him as the head of the concern. The success of the firm has been dueto a gradually built up reputation for thoughtful and able design and perfectworkmanship, and the credit of this achievement has been largely the result ofthe inventive energy and ability shown by Mr. Morcom in the management of theworks and in the training of the staff.

Mr. Morcom was a member of the Institutions of Naval Architects, CivilEngineers, and Mechanical Engineers, and he was also a member of the Council ofthe Birmingham University. He leaves a widow and family. His eldest son, Mr.R.K. Morcom, a member of the Institution of Civil Engineers, occupies aprominent position in the management of the business of the firm.