Hector Rennie Mackilligin died at Tunbridge Wells, Kent, on 21st December, 1958, at the age of 66.
Of Scottish nationality Mr. Mackilligin was educated at Berkhamsted, Hertfordshire, and received his professional training at Camborne School of Mine from 1899 to 1902, gaining a first-class Diploma.
He left England in 1903 to carry out prospecting and assaying at Darcheib, Sudan, for Egyptian Sudan Minerals, Ltd., and from 1904 to 1905 was assaying and underground shift boss at mines in Darcheib and Ceiga in the employ of Messrs. Bewick, Moreing and Co. He then went to Western Australia to gain plant and mill experience at Lancefield Gold Mining Co., Ltd., and two years later was appointed assayer for South Kalgurli Gold Mining Co., Ltd., at Fimiston, where he remained until 1910.
From Australia Mr. Mackilligin went to West Africa, first holding the position of underground manager at Anfargah gold mines for a year, then becoming manager. In 1914 he was appointed underground manager of Prestea Block ‘A’ but left in the following year for health reasons.
In 1916 he went to work in Burma for Messrs. Finlay, Fleming and Co., managing small mines for two years before becoming the mines manager of Rangoon Wolfram Co. He left Finlay, Fleming and Co. in 1919 and took charge of High Speed Steel Alloys Mining Co., Ltd., in Tavoy, for a few months before returning to England in 1920. He went back to Burma two years later, however, holding the position of general manager of Burma Finance and Mining Co. until 1928.
Mr. Mackilligin spent eight years in Nigeria from 1929 to 1937 as general manager of Bisichi Tin Co. (Nigeria), Ltd., and the following seven years in India as general manager of Indian Copper Corporation, Ltd., and in 1946 was appointed to the board of directors shortly after returning home. He was also a director of Thistle-Etna Gold Mines, Ltd., and of Kaduna Syndicate, Ltd., occupying the chair of the latter company from 1956 until his death.
Mr. Mackilligin was admitted to Studentship of the Institution in 1902 and was elected to Associate Membership in 1911 and to Membership in 1920.
Vol. 69, Trans IMM 1959-60, pp.82-83
