Robert Mullineux Walmsley


Dr Robert Mullineux Walmsley FRSE was a British electrical pioneer. He was one of the first to bridge the gap between academic theory and practical use of electricity in the working world.

Life

He was born near Liverpool in 1854, the eldest of nine children. He studied Sciences at the University of London graduating BSc in 1882. He began teaching Physics in London then took on a post as assistant Demonstrator to Prof Ayrton at Finsbury Technical College. He then worked under Prof Silvanus Thompson, receiving a doctorate in 1886.
In 1890 he went to Edinburgh as Professor of Electrical Engineering at Heriot-Watt University.
In 1891 he was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh. His proposers were Francis Grant Ogilvie, William Henry Perkin, Alexander Bruce, and Sir Byrom Bramwell.
In 1895 he was living at 5 Seton Place in the Grange district in south Edinburgh.
In 1896 he relocated from Edinburgh to Northhampton Polytechnic Institute in Clerkenwell as its very first Principal. The college later evolved into City, University of London.
He was struck by a vehicle on a London street near his home in Islington on 12 June 1924 and never regained consciousness. He died in London on 14 June 1924.

Family

In 1896 he married Emily Victoria Hicks.

Publications