Lawrence Ennis CMG [1] OBE [1] (31 August 1871 – 5 May 1938) [1] was a Scottish engineer.
He was best known as the managing director of Dorman Long and the main supervisor of the construction of the Sydney Harbour Bridge. [2]
Ennis was born in West Calder, Scotland. [2] He was descended from a family of engineers on his maternal line. [3] His father was a builder from County Meath in Ireland. [4] He was educated at Gavieside School, but due to his family's poor circumstances he left at the age of 12. [5] His first job was to work as a drawer in a local shale pit. [6] He emigrated with his family to Rochester in the United States at the age of 15. [5] He attended a technical college in Rochester and was apprenticed to an engineering firm. [6]
Ennis developed his reputation when he patented a new angle iron whilst employed at the Carnegie steel works in Pittsburgh. [6] Ennis managed one of the American Bridge Company's largest sites by 1900. [2] Ennis joined Dorman Long in 1903 as superintendent in charge of bridge and constructional works. [7] In 1905 he was made works manager. [7] Ennis became general manager of the company in 1915 and a company director in 1924. [8]
Ennis was appointed OBE in 1918, in recognition of his conversion of the Dorman Long works into a munitions manufacturing site during World War One. [9]
From 1924 to 1932 Ennis was resident in Australia to manage the construction of Sydney Harbour Bridge. [10] [11]
Upon his return to Britain in 1932, Ennis was appointed managing director of Dorman Long. [12] Under his tenure the firm built a large steelworks at Warrenby, Redcar. [13]
He died in 1938. [14]
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Lawrence Ennis CMG [1] OBE [1] (31 August 1871 – 5 May 1938) [1] was a Scottish engineer.
He was best known as the managing director of Dorman Long and the main supervisor of the construction of the Sydney Harbour Bridge. [2]
Ennis was born in West Calder, Scotland. [2] He was descended from a family of engineers on his maternal line. [3] His father was a builder from County Meath in Ireland. [4] He was educated at Gavieside School, but due to his family's poor circumstances he left at the age of 12. [5] His first job was to work as a drawer in a local shale pit. [6] He emigrated with his family to Rochester in the United States at the age of 15. [5] He attended a technical college in Rochester and was apprenticed to an engineering firm. [6]
Ennis developed his reputation when he patented a new angle iron whilst employed at the Carnegie steel works in Pittsburgh. [6] Ennis managed one of the American Bridge Company's largest sites by 1900. [2] Ennis joined Dorman Long in 1903 as superintendent in charge of bridge and constructional works. [7] In 1905 he was made works manager. [7] Ennis became general manager of the company in 1915 and a company director in 1924. [8]
Ennis was appointed OBE in 1918, in recognition of his conversion of the Dorman Long works into a munitions manufacturing site during World War One. [9]
From 1924 to 1932 Ennis was resident in Australia to manage the construction of Sydney Harbour Bridge. [10] [11]
Upon his return to Britain in 1932, Ennis was appointed managing director of Dorman Long. [12] Under his tenure the firm built a large steelworks at Warrenby, Redcar. [13]
He died in 1938. [14]
{{
citation}}
: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (
link) CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (
link)