William Ernest Dalby, FRS (21 December 1862 – 25 June 1936) was a British engineer. At the age of 14 he started work in the Stratford Locomotive Works of the Great Eastern Railway. In 1884 he moved to work in the Crewe Works of the London and North Western Railway as Chief Assistant in the Permanent Way Department. he studied in his spare time for a BSc degree at London University. In 1891 he was appointed to help Sir

Alfred Ewing Sir James Alfred Ewing MInstitCE (27 March 1855 − 7 January 1935) was a Scottish physicist and engineer, best known for his work on the magnetic properties of metals and, in particular, for his discovery of, and coinage of the word, ''hys ...

set up an Engineering Department at

Cambridge University The University of Cambridge is a Public university, public collegiate university, collegiate research university in Cambridge, England. Founded in 1209 and granted a royal charter by Henry III of England, Henry III in 1231, Cambridge is the world' ...

. In 1904, upon the retirement of William Unwin, he was made Professor of Civil and Mechanical Engineering at the City and Guilds of London Institute Central Technical College, which, in 1907, was renamed the City and Guilds College and then, in 1910, became incorporated into

Imperial College, London Imperial College London (legally Imperial College of Science, Technology and Medicine) is a public research university in London, United Kingdom. Its history began with Prince Albert, consort of Queen Victoria, who developed his vision for a c ...

. There he produced a number of Balancing Engines which were important in the development of more efficient railway engines. He wrote the book ''The Balancing of Engines'' published in 1902. He was Vice-President of both the

Institute of Mechanical Engineers The Institution of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE) is an independent professional association and learned society headquartered in London, United Kingdom, that represents mechanical engineers and the engineering profession. With over 120,000 member ...

and the

Institution of Civil Engineers The Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE) is an independent professional association for civil engineers and a charitable body in the United Kingdom. Based in London, ICE has over 92,000 members, of whom three-quarters are located in the UK, whi ...

. In 1913 he was elected a

Fellow of the Royal Society Fellowship of the Royal Society (FRS, ForMemRS and HonFRS) is an award granted by the judges of the Royal Society of London to individuals who have made a "substantial contribution to the improvement of natural knowledge, including mathemat ...

He died at his home in Ealing, London

References

External links

Imperial College Obituary
* {{DEFAULTSORT:Dalby, William 1862 births 1936 deaths British mechanical engineers Fellows of the Royal Society British steam engine engineers Place of birth missing Deans of the City and Guilds College