Sir Stephen Joseph Pigott (January 30, 1880 – February 27, 1955) was an American-born British

mechanical 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 ...

and

marine engineer Marine engineering is the engineering of boats, ships, submarines, and any other marine vessel. Here it is also taken to include the engineering of other ocean systems and structures – referred to in certain academic and professional circl ...

, and managing director of the Scottish shipbuilding firm

John Brown & Company John Brown and Company of Clydebank was a Scottish marine engineering and shipbuilding firm. It built many notable and world-famous ships including , , , , , and the ''Queen Elizabeth 2''. At its height, from 1900 to the 1950s, it was one of ...

. He was awarded the

ASME Medal The ASME Medal, created in 1920, is the highest award bestowed by the ASME (founded as the American Society of Mechanical Engineers) Board of Governors for "eminently distinguished engineering achievement". The award has been presented every year ...

in 1938. Pigott was born in Cornwall, New York, where he attended the local High School. Afterwards he started to work in various engineering jobs, among others at the Columbia Electric Vehicle Company and at the E. W. Bliss Company in Brooklyn. After three years he started to study mechanical and marine engineering at the

Columbia University Columbia University (also known as Columbia, and officially as Columbia University in the City of New York) is a private research university in New York City. Established in 1754 as King's College on the grounds of Trinity Church in Manhatt ...

, where he obtained his engineering degree in 1903.ASME, "Obituary: Sir Stephen Joseph Pigott D.SC.," in: ''The Engineer.'' 1955/03/04. p. 312 After his graduation in 1903 he became assistant to

Charles Gordon Curtis Charles Gordon Curtis (April 20, 1860 in Boston – March 1953 in Central Islip, Suffolk County, New York) was an American engineer, inventor, and patent attorney. He is best known as the developer of the eponymous Curtis steam turbine. Early ...

, assisting in the development of the impulse turbine for marine propulsion. In 1908 he moved to England on invitation of the British Admiralty, where he started his lifelong career working at the Scottish marine engineering and shipbuilding firm

. He worked his way up from designer to manager of the engine works, to local director in 1920. In 1934 he was appointed director, and in 1935 managing director, where he served until his retirement in 1948.

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Stephen Joseph Pigott
at gracesguide.co.uk 1880 births 1955 deaths American mechanical engineers British marine engineers Columbia School of Engineering and Applied Science alumni People from Cornwall, New York ASME Medal recipients Engineers from New York (state) American emigrants to the United Kingdom {{US-mechanical-engineer-stub