Frank Arthur Blakeslee died on 25th December, 1948, in Du Quoin, Illinois, U.S.A., at the age of 84.
He was born in Du Quoin, and from 1881 to 1885 learned the machinist’s Trade in his father’s shop in that town. Mr. Blakeslee was subsequently connected with construction work at a number of metal mines in Nevada, Colorado, Arizona and Utah, and in 1898 he became mill superintendent at the Great Boulder Perseverance gold mine at Kalgoorlie, Western Australia, where he served for six years. He was later connected with the American Smelting and Refining Company, as master mechanic, both in the U.S.A. and Mexico.
After working for a number of years as chief engineer to Ashanti Goldfields in Gold Coast Colony, Mr. Blakeslee came to England on his appointment as superintendent of Fraser and Chalmers Engineering Co., Ltd., Erith, returning to the U.S.A. in 1917. He lived in Vallejo, California, and for some years was employed by the U.S. Navy at the Mare Island Yard on the construction of submarines. He retired in 1934, living at his California home until 1947 when he removed to Marion, Illinois.
Mr. Blakeslee was elected to Membership of the Institution in 1904.
Vol. 59, Trans I.M.M. 1949-50, pp. ?
