Herbert Reah Harper
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Herbert Reah Harper | |
|---|---|
| Born | 23 June 1871 |
| Died | 27 July 1956 (aged 85) |
| Citizenship | Australia |
| Education | City and Guilds Technical College |
| Engineering career | |
| Discipline | Engineer |
| Institutions | State Electricity Commission of Victoria |
| Awards | Kernot Medal, Peter Nicol Russell Medal |
Herbert Reah Harper (23 June 1871 – 27 July 1956[1]) was a British born, Australian electrical engineer who played an important role in the development of first the Melbourne electric supply and then the State Electricity Commission of Victoria.[2]
Harper was born in London on 23 June 1871 to parents James Harper, a commercial traveller and Hannah, née Reah. Harper attended Dulwich College and studied engineering at the City and Guilds Technical College, Finsbury, then took up an apprenticeship at the Rennoldson Electrical Engineering Company, a Tyneside engineering firm located in South Shields, gaining experience in marine engineering.[3]
He was engaged in England to Eva Beatrice Ellis, whom he married at St Alban's Church, Armadale in Melbourne on 11 January 1902 and had four children. He died at Toorak on 27 July 1956.
British engineering work
In 1893, he began work at the Brush Electrical Engineering Company and in 1895 he supervised the installation of electric supply in Malta for that firm, staying on as chief engineer for the power authority. On return to England he supervised a number of tramway and town lighting systems. In 1889, he was sent to Melbourne as assistant to F. W. Clements, to manage the Brush Electrical Engineering Co subsidiary Electric Light and Traction Co.
