Alexander Hill died at his residence, Northwood, on April 24th, 1912, at the age of 56, after a period of ill-health extending over two years.
He was educated at St. Andrews and Glasgow Universities, and received his first practical training at the offices of the late Professor W.J.M. Rankin, and in Scottish coal mines. He then entered the laboratory of the Tharsis Sulphur and Copper Co., in Glasgow, and thence in 1875 was appointed to the responsible post of metallurgical superintendent of the Rio Tinto Mines in Spain, where for five years he had charge of the cementation and reduction works and designed and superintended the construction of extensive plant. With a view to gaining wider experience, Mr. Hill went to Mexico in 1881, where he was in charge of silver mines and reduction works until 1883. Thence he went to Portugal, where he was engaged in developing and managing several copper mines.
From 1890 to 1895 he practised as a consulting mining engineer in association with Mr. W. Ferdinand and Mr. G.D. Delprat. In 1895, Mr. Hill went to California for Messrs. Matheson & Co., and acted as general manager of the Mountain Copper Co., returning to England in 1897 to practise again as a consulting mining engineer. In 1903 he entered into partnership with Mr. C.H. Stewart, A.R.S.M., the firm being styled Alexr. Hill & Stewart, and this association continued until Mr. Hill’s death.
Mr. Hill was elected a Member of the Institution in 1902, and a Member of the Council in March, 1909.
Vol. 21, Trans IMM 1911-12, pp.724-5
See pp.211/212 Avery, D., 1974, Not on Queen Victoria’s Birthday: Story of the Rio Tinto Mines (London: Harper Collins)
Father of Laurence Carr Hill
