Hugh Vivian died at his home in Swansea on 17th August, 1956, at the age of 72.
Captain Vivian was educated at Uppingham from 1897 to 1900, and received his technical education at the University of Hanover between 1900 and 1903 in mechanical and civil engineering and at the University of Freiburg until 1908, graduating with first class honours for a thesis on copper. During the vacation he worked in mines in Portugal and smelting works in Germany.
He entered the firm of Vivian and Sons, Swansea, in 1909, as metallurgist and engineer, and in 1912 was made general technical manager of the firm, in which the various works included smelting and rolling of copper, lead spelter, brass alloys, and the production of sulphuric acid and hydrochloric acid.
During the 1914-18 war he served in France with the Royal Army Service Corps, with the Military Intelligence Dept., and as Senior Liaison Officer, Portuguese Heavy Artillery. He returned to Swansea in 1918 and two years later was appointed managing director of Vivian and Sons. On the amalgamation of this company with others in 1924 to form British Copper Manufacturers, Ltd., Captain Vivian was appointed managing director. In 1934 he was chairman of Beyer, Peacock and Co., Ltd., and Richard Garrett Engineering Works, Ltd., and a director of Metropolitan Vickers Electrical Co., Ltd., and Briton Ferry Steel Co., Ltd., and he joined the board of the Indian Copper Corporation in the following year. Among other company directorships held were those of the Great Western Railway, Associated Electrical Industries, Ltd., Christy and Co., Ltd., Kaduna Prospectors, Ltd., and Kaduna Syndicate, Ltd., Lake George Mining Corporation, Ltd., Paterson Engineering Co., Ltd., and Portals, Ltd., and he was a part-time director of the National Coal Board, S.W. Division.
He became a member of the Institution in 1928.
Vol. 67, Trans IMM 1957-58, p.652
