William Ripper, CH (1853–1937) was a British educationalist. He was principal of

Sheffield Technical School Sheffield is a city in South Yorkshire, England, whose name derives from the River Sheaf which runs through it. The city serves as the administrative centre of the City of Sheffield. It is historically part of the West Riding of Yorkshire and ...

when it merged with other institutions to create the

University of Sheffield , mottoeng = To discover the causes of things , established = – University of SheffieldPredecessor institutions: – Sheffield Medical School – Firth College – Sheffield Technical School – University College of Sheffield , type = Pu ...

, and he was acting vice-chancellor of the university from 1917 to 1919. He started as a dockyard apprentice, was later a science teacher in the Central Higher School of Sheffield, publishing a book on chemistry. However, his main technical work was as a

mechanical engineer Mechanical may refer to: Machine * Machine (mechanical), a system of mechanisms that shape the actuator input to achieve a specific application of output forces and movement * Mechanical calculator, a device used to perform the basic operations of ...

. He published two notable books on steam and steam engines which went through several editions. ''Steam'' was later, in 1909, expanded to cover the recently developed steam turbines and

internal combustion engine An internal combustion engine (ICE or IC engine) is a heat engine in which the combustion of a fuel occurs with an oxidizer (usually air) in a combustion chamber that is an integral part of the working fluid flow circuit. In an internal c ...

s, being then re-titled as ''Heat Engines'' He was therefore appointed to teach mechanical engineering at Sheffield Technical School, becoming professor in 1889 and then principal. The Technical School became the Department of Applied Science in the new University in 1905, with Ripper as head. During the

First World War World War I (28 July 1914 11 November 1918), often abbreviated as WWI, was one of the deadliest global conflicts in history. Belligerents included much of Europe, the Russian Empire, the United States, and the Ottoman Empire, with fightin ...

the then Vice-Chancellor Herbert Fisher was called away to a government post, and Ripper took on the role until 1919. He managed this in addition to his position of professor of mechanical engineering, and also coordinator of the university war effort, which included extensive training for industry and allocation of work to local firms for efficient production, as well as research and direct technical support. Ripper was also instrumental in setting up local ‘trades technical societies’ to promote good technical practice and worker education, sometimes using the university’s laboratories. Ripper retired from the university in 1923 and died in 1937.

Published works

* * * * * * with Alfred Kersey

References

* *

External links

* * 1853 births 1937 deaths Academics of the University of Sheffield British mechanical engineers {{Engineer-stub