F.G. Mitchell
Encyclopedia
Frederick G. Mitchell (c.1885-1962) was a leading British
businessman who founded a major international construction
business and promoted the development of a new range of helicopter
s.
, Mitchell became an apprentice on the railways at the age of 14. After working for a firm of consulting engineers as a draughtsman
, he joined the engineering firm of Fraser and Chalmers. During World War I
he worked as a civilian troubleshooter for Lord Kitchener
. After the War Mitchell established an engineering business in London
supplying coal handling plant and boilers for power station
s. In 1933 he diversified into construction activities founding Mitchell Construction
which focused on the construction of power stations and which, after his death, was to become one of the largest construction companies in the UK
.
His passion was sailing and in 1931 he became Commodore of the Royal Corinthian Yacht Club
where he was responsible for completing the new clubhouse at Burnham-on-Crouch
as well as establishing a Southern Branch at Cowes
. During the 1950s Mitchell's business expanded rapidly enabling him to acquire a former minesweeper
and restore it. He instituted the Finn Gold Cup for the Finn Class
of Sailing in 1956.
In 1960 Mitchell together with J.S. Shapiro established Rotorcraft, a business which developed the Grasshopper series of helicopter
s.
Mitchell lived at Clopton Manor in Northamptonshire
: he died in 1962.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
businessman who founded a major international construction
Construction
In the fields of architecture and civil engineering, construction is a process that consists of the building or assembling of infrastructure. Far from being a single activity, large scale construction is a feat of human multitasking...
business and promoted the development of a new range of helicopter
Helicopter
A helicopter is a type of rotorcraft in which lift and thrust are supplied by one or more engine-driven rotors. This allows the helicopter to take off and land vertically, to hover, and to fly forwards, backwards, and laterally...
s.
Career
Born in LondonLondon
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, Mitchell became an apprentice on the railways at the age of 14. After working for a firm of consulting engineers as a draughtsman
Draughtsman
A draughtsman or draftsman , is a person skilled in drawing, either:*drawing for artistic purposes, or*technical drawing for practical purposes such as architecture or engineering...
, he joined the engineering firm of Fraser and Chalmers. During World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
he worked as a civilian troubleshooter for Lord Kitchener
Herbert Kitchener, 1st Earl Kitchener
Field Marshal Horatio Herbert Kitchener, 1st Earl Kitchener KG, KP, GCB, OM, GCSI, GCMG, GCIE, ADC, PC , was an Irish-born British Field Marshal and proconsul who won fame for his imperial campaigns and later played a central role in the early part of the First World War, although he died halfway...
. After the War Mitchell established an engineering business in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
supplying coal handling plant and boilers for power station
Power station
A power station is an industrial facility for the generation of electric energy....
s. In 1933 he diversified into construction activities founding Mitchell Construction
Mitchell Construction
Mitchell Construction was once a leading British civil engineering business based in Peterborough.-History:The business was founded by F.G. Mitchell in London in 1933 as an offshoot of Mitchell Engineering, his engineering business. In 1940 the Company moved to Peterborough because of the...
which focused on the construction of power stations and which, after his death, was to become one of the largest construction companies in the UK
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
.
His passion was sailing and in 1931 he became Commodore of the Royal Corinthian Yacht Club
Royal Corinthian Yacht Club
The Royal Corinthian Yacht Club was founded at Erith, Kent in 1872. Over the years, it has operated from a number of locations but now exists with a northern and southern branch at Burnham-on-Crouch, Essex, and at Cowes, Isle of Wight respectively....
where he was responsible for completing the new clubhouse at Burnham-on-Crouch
Burnham-on-Crouch
Burnham-on-Crouch is a town in the Maldon district of Essex in the East of England. It lies on the north bank of the River Crouch.-History:Historically, it has benefited from its location on the coast - first as a ferry port, later as a fishing port known for its oyster beds, and most recently as a...
as well as establishing a Southern Branch at Cowes
Cowes
Cowes is an English seaport town and civil parish on the Isle of Wight. Cowes is located on the west bank of the estuary of the River Medina facing the smaller town of East Cowes on the east Bank...
. During the 1950s Mitchell's business expanded rapidly enabling him to acquire a former minesweeper
Minesweeper (ship)
A minesweeper is a small naval warship designed to counter the threat posed by naval mines. Minesweepers generally detect then neutralize mines in advance of other naval operations.-History:...
and restore it. He instituted the Finn Gold Cup for the Finn Class
Finn (dinghy)
The Finn dinghy is the men's single-handed, cat-rigged Olympic class for sailing. It was designed by Swedish canoe designer, Rickard Sarby, in 1949 for the 1952 Summer Olympics in Helsinki...
of Sailing in 1956.
In 1960 Mitchell together with J.S. Shapiro established Rotorcraft, a business which developed the Grasshopper series of helicopter
Helicopter
A helicopter is a type of rotorcraft in which lift and thrust are supplied by one or more engine-driven rotors. This allows the helicopter to take off and land vertically, to hover, and to fly forwards, backwards, and laterally...
s.
Mitchell lived at Clopton Manor in Northamptonshire
Northamptonshire
Northamptonshire is a landlocked county in the English East Midlands, with a population of 629,676 as at the 2001 census. It has boundaries with the ceremonial counties of Warwickshire to the west, Leicestershire and Rutland to the north, Cambridgeshire to the east, Bedfordshire to the south-east,...
: he died in 1962.