Matthew Leander King
Encyclopedia
Major Matthew Leander King (May 20, 1878 - October 23, 1919) was an American engineer
.
, the son of Anna Ross (née
Caldwell) and John King. He graduated from the Mechanical Engineering Department of Iowa State College in 1906. Major King was a charter member of the American Society of Agricultural Engineers, a member of the American Society of Testing Materials. He became a member of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers
in 1912, and belonged to various aeronautical and officers' clubs. He married Lucy M. Massure Jan. 1, 1901 in Redfield, Iowa, the daughter of Richard Henry Lee Massure and Phoebe Duell. Their union produced two daughters, Harriet Marie and Helen. He was the maternal grandfather of actor Nick Nolte
.
, during which time he invented the hollow clay tile silo. For two years he was superintendent and general manager of the David M. Bradley Implement Works at Bradley, Illinois
. He organized the Iowa Clay Products manufacturers into the Permanent Buildings Society for the development of new designs of and uses for hollow-clay building tile.
, Oklahoma, in charge of maintenance and repair of aeroplanes. He was advanced to the rank of Major in August, 1918, and in November of that year was assigned to Indianapolis as chief engineering officer for aviation in the Northern District. In February 1919, he was made acting director of aviation for the Northern District. In April he was transferred to Washington, D.C.
, and from there he was assigned on special missions until July when he became flight commander and chief engineering officer of the American Pathfinding and Recruiting Expedition. He was transferred from the Officers' Reserve Corps to the regular army with the rank of Major in October about a week before his death. While at Post Field he learned to fly and was given the classification of Reserve Military Aviator.
Engineering
Engineering is the discipline, art, skill and profession of acquiring and applying scientific, mathematical, economic, social, and practical knowledge, in order to design and build structures, machines, devices, systems, materials and processes that safely realize improvements to the lives of...
.
Early life and marriage
King was born in Panora, IowaPanora, Iowa
Panora is a city in Guthrie County, Iowa, United States. The population was 1,175 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Des Moines–West Des Moines Metropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:...
, the son of Anna Ross (née
Married and maiden names
A married name is the family name adopted by a person upon marriage. When a person assumes the family name of her spouse, the new name replaces the maiden name....
Caldwell) and John King. He graduated from the Mechanical Engineering Department of Iowa State College in 1906. Major King was a charter member of the American Society of Agricultural Engineers, a member of the American Society of Testing Materials. He became a member of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers
American Society of Mechanical Engineers
The American Society of Mechanical Engineers is a professional body, specifically an engineering society, focused on mechanical engineering....
in 1912, and belonged to various aeronautical and officers' clubs. He married Lucy M. Massure Jan. 1, 1901 in Redfield, Iowa, the daughter of Richard Henry Lee Massure and Phoebe Duell. Their union produced two daughters, Harriet Marie and Helen. He was the maternal grandfather of actor Nick Nolte
Nick Nolte
Nicholas King "Nick" Nolte is an American actor whose career has spanned over five decades, peaking in the 1990s when his commercial success made him one of the most popular celebrities of that decade.-Early life:...
.
As an engineer
He spent five years as an experimentalist in agricultural engineering with the Agricultrual Experiment Station of Iowa State College, Ames, IowaAmes, Iowa
Ames is a city located in the central part of the U.S. state of Iowa in Story County, and approximately north of Des Moines. The U.S. Census Bureau designates that Ames, Iowa metropolitan statistical area as encompassing all of Story County, and which, when combined with the Boone, Iowa...
, during which time he invented the hollow clay tile silo. For two years he was superintendent and general manager of the David M. Bradley Implement Works at Bradley, Illinois
Bradley, Illinois
Bradley is a village in Kankakee County, Illinois, United States. The population was 12,784 at the 2000 census, and 15,070 in 2009....
. He organized the Iowa Clay Products manufacturers into the Permanent Buildings Society for the development of new designs of and uses for hollow-clay building tile.
Military career
King entered the army in September, 1917, with the rank of Captain and was assigned to the Aviation School of Aerial Observation at Post Field, Fort SillFort Sill
Fort Sill is a United States Army post near Lawton, Oklahoma, about 85 miles southwest of Oklahoma City.Today, Fort Sill remains the only active Army installation of all the forts on the South Plains built during the Indian Wars...
, Oklahoma, in charge of maintenance and repair of aeroplanes. He was advanced to the rank of Major in August, 1918, and in November of that year was assigned to Indianapolis as chief engineering officer for aviation in the Northern District. In February 1919, he was made acting director of aviation for the Northern District. In April he was transferred to Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
, and from there he was assigned on special missions until July when he became flight commander and chief engineering officer of the American Pathfinding and Recruiting Expedition. He was transferred from the Officers' Reserve Corps to the regular army with the rank of Major in October about a week before his death. While at Post Field he learned to fly and was given the classification of Reserve Military Aviator.
Further reading
- "Transactions of The American Society of Mechanical EngineersAmerican Society of Mechanical EngineersThe American Society of Mechanical Engineers is a professional body, specifically an engineering society, focused on mechanical engineering....
," vol. 41, 1919, p. 1129.