Frederick John Rich died after a short illness at his home in Torquay, Devon, on 4th July, 1956, at the age of 82.
Mr. Rich worked under his father, manager of South Condurrow tin mine, Cornwall, from 1888 to 1895, first on surface and later as underground agent, and during this period attended the Redruth Science and Art School where he obtained a First Honours and Bronze Medal in ‘Principles of Mining’ of the South Kensington Science and Art Department, and a First Honours and Silver Medal of the City and Guilds of London Institute in ‘Raising and Preparation of Ores’.
He left England in 1895 and held the position of mine manager for Pahang-Kabang Co. of Kuantan, Straits Settlements, until 1898, also acting as mine manager for the Pahang Corporation, Ltd., for some months. Mr. Rich worked in Tasmania as manager at Mount Donaldson Copper Co. from 1899 to 1901, and as chief mining engineer of Cuban Mining and Development Co., Cuba, from 1902 to 1904, and two years later went to Portugal, beginning his long association with Messrs. Mason and Barry, Ltd., as chief assistant in their mining department at Mina de S. Domingos.
Mr. Rich was appointed chief of mining department in 1908 and became technical manager in 1910 and resident general manager in 1920. He retired from that position in 1925, but remained with Messrs. Mason and Barry as consulting mining engineer until 1951, and continued consulting work until his death.
Mr. Rich had been a Member of the Institution since 1910.
Vol. 66, Trans I.M.M., 1956-57, p.240
