Chronology of Charles Parsons

1854-1870

Charles Parsons is born in London, the youngest son of the Third Earl and Countess of Rosse. He is educated at home, in an atmosphere that encouraged innovation and practical skills. A private tutor, scientist Sir Robert Ball, is engaged by the Third Earl for his three youngest sons. From an early age Charles shows a strong interest in mechanics and engineering. As a boy and young man, Charles is brought on cruises in the family yachts, visiting the coast of Britain and as far as northern Spain.

1871-1877

He enters Trinity College, Dublin in 1871 and gains a prize for his mathematical ability. After two years in Dublin, he is admitted to St. John's College, Cambridge and takes a mathematics degree in 1877, gaining first class honours. Charles is also a keen oarsman and joins a rowing club while at university in England. Acquaintances describe him variously as strong in character, eccentric, unorthodox, shy and modest, but with a good sense of humour.

1877-1883

After college, in an unusual move for a young man of his social class, he enters an engineering apprenticeship in the Elswick Works of W.G. Armstrong in Newcastle upon Tyne. He becomes a "premium" apprentice, usually leading to a managerial career, and it costs him £500 to obtain the position. While at Elswick he refines and develops his ideas regarding an "epicycloidal" engine, which he had first thought during his time at Cambridge. Forty of his engines are manufactured by the Kitsen's Company of Leeds in Yorkshire. Charles moves to Kitsons and spent two years working on rocket powered torpedoes which never proved successful. However, it is while at Leeds that he meets Katherine Bethell, and the couple marry in January 1883. He is reputed to have wooed and won his wife by impressing her with his skill at needlework.

1884-1888

Charles becomes a junior partner and head of the electrical section of the ship equipment manufactures, Clarke, Chapman and Company, based at Gateshead. He takes out a patent for his new turbine engine in April 1884 and immediately utilises the engine to drive an electrical generator, which he also designs. In about 1886, Charles Parsons develops a cheap method to make searchlights and continues the business during his lifetime. In 1921, he buys Derby Glassworks and makes major improvements in the manufacture of optical glass. In 1925, he buys Sir Howard Grubb's company and engages in the astronomical telescope business. His prototype light weight honey-comb optical mirrors fore-shadow present astronomical needs.

1889-1893

In 1889, along with some friends, he establishes the C.A. Parsons Company at Heaton, near Newcastle to exploit his invention of the turbo-generator. He is forced to use a less efficient design until he regains the patent rights from Clark, Chapman in 1894.

In 1893, Charles Parsons builds a small, lightweight, steam engine which he used to first power a helicopter and then a fixed wing plane. The helicopter rises to a height of several yards (metres) and the plane flies about 100 yards, rising to a height of 20 feet (6 metres).

His new company makes a great success of developing and supplying turbo-generators to power stations across the world.

1894

Along with friends, Charles forms the Marine Steam Turbine Company and takes the patents related to its marine application. Turbinia is launched on the 2nd August.

1897

Turbinia makes a dramatic entrance onto the world stage by giving a high speed display at Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee Fleet Review at Spithead. The Parsons Marine Steam Turbine Company is established.

1898

Charles founds the Turbinia Works at Wallsend.

1899-1901

The Royal Navy vessels HMS Viper and HMS Cobra are launched in 1899. Both of these ships are powered by Parsons's turbine design. In about 1900 Parsons begins experiments to amplify sound and these culminate in the first devices to amplify music, some 20 years before electrical amplifiers. However, the results are mixed and the idea never caught on. One reaction was:

"Have you heard the auxetophone? It is to be hoped not. All Mr. Parsons' turbines will be wanted to take long-suffering humanity out of earshot of his diabolical invention".

Also in 1900, Turbinia voyages to the Paris Exhibition, where she gives high speed displays on the Seine. In 1901, both HMS Viper and HMS Cobra are wrecked at sea within a few weeks of each other. The first turbine driven passenger ship, King Edward, is launched.

1902

The Royal Navy puts the turbine powered destroyer HMS Velox into service.

He spent over £30,000 and twenty five years in trying to make artificial diamonds by using methods which foreshadowed the techniques now successfully employed. After "several thousand experiments have been made, and a much greater number of analysis" he finally had to admit defeat.

1905

The Allen Line's Victorian and Virginian become the first passenger ships to cross the Atlantic. Admiralty designers endorse the view that all new Royal Navy vessels should be turbine powered.

1906

The Royal Navy's first turbine powered battleship, HMS Dreadnought is launched at Portsmouth.

1907

The 31,000 ton Cunard express passenger liners Mauretania and Lusitania sail on their maiden voyages equipped with 73,000 horsepower from her turbine engines. Turbinia is retired and put on display.

1909

Charles Parsons refits the cargo steamer Vespasian with geared turbine engines and achieves successful results.

1911

Charles receives a knighthood.

1927

Sir Charles is awarded the Order of Merit. The after section of Turbinia is put on display at the Science Museum in London.

1931

After taking ill in Jamaica, Sir Charles dies on February 11th, whilst on board the liner Duchess of Richmond.

1933

Lady Parsons dies at home on the 16th October, 1933.

1961

Turbinia is rebuilt and put on display in Newcastle.

1983-1996

Turbinia is restored and exhibited in a special gallery at the Newcastle Discovery Museum.

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