View source for Charles Mitchell (shipbuilder)

{{other people|Charles Mitchell}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2021}}
{{Use British English|date=August 2012}}

'''Charles Mitchell''' (22 May 1820 – 22 August 1895) was a Scottish engineer from [[Aberdeen]] who founded major shipbuilding yards on the Tyne. He became a public benefactor who funded notable buildings that still survive today.

==Career==
[[File:SS Silvertown 1873 1901.JPG|thumb|300px|In 1873 C. Mitchell & Co. built the 4,935 [[Gross register tonnage|GRT]] CS ''Hooper'', the World's first purpose-built [[Cable layer|cable-laying ship]]. It was renamed CS ''Silvertown'' in 1881 and is pictured here in 1901.]]

He attended Aberdeen University. After an [[engineering apprentice]]ship in London, he became a ship designer working for [[John Coutts (shipbuilder)|John Coutts]]' [[Newcastle upon Tyne]] yard in 1842. He became a shipbuilder in his own right at the Low Walker yard on the Tyne in 1852.<ref>[http://www.communigate.co.uk/ne/mitchells/page2.phtml History of the Low Walker Shipyard] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110510003106/http://www.communigate.co.uk/ne/mitchells/page2.phtml |date=10 May 2011 }} Communigate</ref> The cable ship [[CS Hooper|''Hooper'']], second in size only to [[SS Great Eastern|SS ''Great Eastern'']] and the first ship designed specifically to lay trans-Atlantic cable, was launched for [[Hooper's Telegraph Works]] at the yard on 29 March 1873 after four and a half months construction.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://atlantic-cable.com/CableCos/BritishMfrs/index.htm |title=History of the Atlantic Cable & Submarine Telegraphy - British Cable Manufacturers |accessdate=22 January 2020 |last=Glover |first=Bill |date=22 December 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://atlantic-cable.com//Cableships/Silvertown/index.htm |title=History of the Atlantic Cable & Submarine Telegraphy - CS ''Hooper''/''Silvertown'' |accessdate=22 January 2020 |last=Glover |first=Bill |date=22 December 2019}}</ref> That shipyard joined in partnership with the Armstrong yard to form [[Armstrong Mitchell]] in 1882.<ref name="auto">{{Cite web|url=https://www.gracesguide.co.uk/Charles_Mitchell|title=Charles Mitchell - Graces Guide|website=gracesguide.co.uk}}</ref>

He was decorated with the [[Order of Saint Stanislaus (Imperial House of Romanov)|Imperial Order of St Stanislaus, 2nd class]] (normal for foreign nationals), which may be seen in the coat of arms over the door of Jesmond Towers.<ref name="auto"/> Jesmond Towers, until 2008 the [[La Sagesse School]], is a [[Gothic Revival architecture|Gothic Revival]] building that was built in several stages in the nineteenth century. The main work is by the Newcastle architect [[John Dobson (architect)|John Dobson]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://twsitelines.info/SMR/5724|title=Jesmond, Jesmond Towers &#124; sitelines.newcastle.gov.uk|website=twsitelines.info}}</ref> In 1871, Mitchell was among those greeting the High Admiral, [[Grand Duke Konstantin Nikolayevich of Russia|Grand Duke Konstantin]] at [[Newcastle railway station|Newcastle Central station]], after which the party drove on to Jesmond Towers. The Russian guests had come to visit the Low Walker yard and have a quick tour of the river.

In 1887 Mitchell commissioned the [[Art Nouveau]] church of St George, [[Jesmond]] from Thomas Ralph Spence (1845–1918),<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.twhf.co.uk/pages/members/alliance-members-pages/friends-of-st-georges-jesmond.php|title=Friends of St George's, Jesmond - Tyne and Wear Heritage Forum|website=twhf.co.uk}}</ref> secretary of the Newcastle Arts Association. The building is tall and dramatic inside and of excellent workmanship throughout (commented upon by [[George Bernard Shaw]] on his visit in the 1890s). The stained glass is especially fine, and the mosaic figures were designed by Mitchell's own son, C.W. Mitchell. The Lewis organ was originally provided with air by two powerful hydraulic engines supplied by Mitchell's neighbour in Jesmond Dene, [[William George Armstrong, 1st Baron Armstrong|Baron Armstrong]]. In [[Jesmond]] he gave the land from the Jesmond Towers estate and £30,000 for the construction of the ''art nouveau'' St George's church (1888).

Until his death at the age of 75 he directed the shipbuilding activities of Sir W.G. Armstrong, Mitchell and Co. In 1897, after he died, the firm became [[Armstrong Whitworth]] which is now part of [[Rolls-Royce plc]] and [[BAE Systems]].

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==Sources==
*Obituary in ''The Times'', Monday, 26 Aug 1895; pg. 7
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20160303223251/http://www.swanhunter.com/history_p2.html Swan Hunter History]

==External links==
{{Commons category-inline|Charles Mitchell and Company}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Mitchell, Charles}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:1820 births]]
[[Category:1895 deaths]]
[[Category:People from Aberdeen]]
[[Category:Scottish shipbuilders]]
[[Category:Scottish company founders]]
[[Category:Alumni of the University of Aberdeen]]
[[Category:19th-century Scottish businesspeople]]
[[Category:19th-century Scottish engineers]]