Frederick William North died on March 7th, 1917, and was about 73 years of age.
He was educated privately, and after serving several years as articled pupil to his father, he became a partner in the firm of William North & Son. About ten years later he introduced into England the Kind-Chaudron method of sinking shafts through aqueous strata without pumping. At the time he was managing partner of the Rowley Hall Collieries, Dudley, a position which he held for over 20 years.
In 1877, Mr. North was engaged by the government of Cape Colony to explore and report upon the coalfields of that Colony; and in 1880, the government of Natal gave him a similar commission with respect to its coalfields. It was upon his recommendation that the railways were extended to link up the coal districts with the other parts of the Colony.
In 1888, he became a member, of the South Staffordshire Mines Drainage Commission; and in the following year he went to South Africa and visited the goldfields of the Rand. Four years later he again went to South Africa, and in 1896, his professional duties took him to America, where he visited various mining centres in Colorado, Utah and British Columbia. Subsequently he came to London and for several years preceding his death resided at Hampstead.
Mr. North was an original Member of the Institution.
Vol. 26, Trans IMM 1916-17, pp.273-4
