Basic Biographical Details
| Name: | William Walter Lackie |
| Designation: | |
| Born: | 9 July 1869 |
| Died: | 10 February 1945 |
| Bio Notes: | William Walter Lackie (sometimes erroneously called Leckie) was born 9th July 1869, in Montrose, Angus, the son of David Lackie and Isabella Lamond. He was educated at Montrose Academy and Aberdeen Grammar School, and studied electrical engineering, first at University College, Dundee, and later at Glasgow University, under Lord Kelvin. In 1911 he was living at 13 Botanic Crescent, Glasgow. Lackie was one of a band of eminent engineers who were closely associated with the early organization and development of electricity supply in Great Britain. In 1888, he joined the firm of Mavor and Coulson, and was engaged on the installation at the Municipal Buildings and on work at the John Street station. When the undertaking was handed over to Glasgow Corporation in 1892, his services were transferred with it. For five years he was Mains Superintendent and for a further five years, Chief Assistant to the late Mr W A Chamen, whom he succeeded as Chief Engineer and Manager in 1902. He held this position with distinction for 18 years, during which his duties greatly increased in consequence of the change-over of the system f o the higher voltage, the extension of the city boundaries, and the construction of the first sections of the Dalmarnock power station. In 1920 he was called to London to serve as a member of the Electricity Commission. To the office of an Electricity Commissioner Mr. Lackie brought a profound engineering knowledge and an extensive practical experience of the technical and administrative problems of the electricity supply industry, which proved of great value in the formulation and carrying out of the reorganization schemes which ultimately resulted in the establishment of the National Grid. He resigned his appointment and retired from active work in 1934. In 1900 he became a member of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers and throughout his career took a keen interest in its proceedings, to which he contributed numerous papers. During the session of 1908-09 he served as Chairman of the Scottish Centre. He was also a Member of The Institution of Civil Engineers and a Past-President of the Institution of Engineers and Shipbuilders in Scotland, to whose Transactions he was a frequent contributor. He was appointed CBE in 1919. Lackie was an excellent companion and a great raconteur who could be depended upon to lighten an otherwise wearisome journey. Ho played a good game of golf and enjoyed a round of the links until the end; photography was another of his hobbies. He married, in 1900, Anne (nee Robson), by whom he is survived, together with one daughter and two sons, who are both following in their father's profession. He died on 10th February, 1945 in Walton-on-Thames. Biography adapted from IEEExplore website obituary |
Private and Business Addresses
| The following private or business addresses are associated with this : | |||||
| Address | Type | Date from | Date to | Notes | |
 | Glasgow, Scotland | Business | |||
| 13, Botanic Crescent, Glasgow, Scotland | ||||
Employment and Training
Employers
| The following individuals or organisations employed or trained this (click on an item to view details): | |||||
| Name | Date from | Date to | Position | Notes | |
| Glasgow Office of Public Works Architectural Department (later Glasgow Corporation City Engineer's Department) | Before 1912 | After 1914 | Engineer | |
Buildings and Designs
| This was involved with the following buildings or structures from the date specified (click on an item to view details): | |||||||
| Date started | Building name | Town, district or village | Island | City or county | Country | Notes | |
| 1912 | Electricity Substation | Glasgow | Scotland | |||
| 1912 | Electricity Substation | Glasgow | Scotland | |||
| 1914 | Dalmarnock Power Station | Dalmarnock | Glasgow | Scotland | ||
References
Bibliographic References
| The following books contain references to this : | ||||||
| Author(s) | Date | Title | Part | Publisher | Notes | |
| http://ieeexplore.ieee.org/stamp/stamp.jsp?arnumber=05294219 | http://ieeexplore.ieee.org/stamp/stamp.jsp?arnumber=05294219 | ||||
| Stevenson, D M, et al. | 1914 | Municipal Glasgow: its evolution and enterprises | Glasgow: Corporation of the City of Glasgow | Chapter on electricity written by Lackie | |
Archive References
| The following archives hold material relating to this : | ||||
| Source | Archive Name | Source Catalogue No. | Notes | |
| Census records online | Censuses | 1911: GROS 644/14 001/ | |
| Courtesy of Alan Bacsich | Information sent via 'Contact Us' on website | Sent May 2012 | |
| England and Wales | Births, marriages and deaths | GROS 312/00 0295 | Birth |