Frederick William Leighton died in Colombia, South America, in October, 1943, at the age of 49.
After studying for three years at the Victoria University, Manchester, he obtained the Certificate of Chemical Technology of the University and the Diploma and Associateship of the Manchester School of Technology in 1912, and in the same year left for Nigeria to take up a post as assayer and surveyor with the Anglo-Continental Mines Co., Ltd.
Returning to England in 1913, he was next employed as assistant engineer by the Anglo-Colombian Development Co., Ltd., in the Republic of Colombia, but came home in 1916 to take a commission in the Royal Engineers. On demobilization early in 1918 he took charge of one of the Nigerian properties of his former employers in that country, and in 1920 again went to Colombia for the Nechi Consolidated Gold Mining Co., Ltd. From 1921 to 1927 he was superintendent of the British Platinum and Gold Corporation, Ltd., Colombia, and in 1927-28 general manager of Nus River Gold Mines, Ltd.
In 1929 he joined the staff of Panama Corporation. Ltd., and from 1933-34 was assistant manager of Veraguas Mines, Ltd., Panama. After carrying out examination work in British Guiana and Upper Burma he became superintendent of Edjudina Consolidated Gold Mines, Ltd., Western Australia, in 1935, and two years later returned to Colombia as superintendent of Viborita Gold Mines, Ltd., a position which he held at the time of his death.
Mr. Leighton was elected a Student of the Institution in 1913, and was transferred to Associateship in 1917 and to Membership in 1931.
Vol. 54, Trans IMM 1944-45, pp.269-70
