CHARLES MARK PALMER, M.P.,
CHAIRMAN OF THE PALMER SHIPBUILDING AND IRON COMPANY; MEMBER OF THE IRON AND STEEL INSTITUTE, ETC.
Born at South Shields, on the Tyne, in 1822. Son of Mr George Palmer, who was in early life engaged in Greenland whaling, and was subsequently a merchant and shipowner at Newcastle-on-Tyne. Was trained for a mercantile life, and having completed his education in France, became, at an early age, partner with his father in the firm of Palmer, Beckwith & Co., export merchants, timber merchants, and sawmill owners: a firm since styled Palmer, Hall & Co., and of which he is now the senior. In 1845 assumed partnership with Mr John Bowes, the late Sir William Hutt, and the late Mr Nicholas Wood, in the Marley Hill colliery and coke manufacture, and subsequently acquiringthe collieries ofLord Ravensworth & Partners, and of others, the concern known as John Bowes, Esq. & Partners, has become, under Mr Palmer’s sole management, one of the largest colliery concerns in the north of England. In 1852, in partnership at first with his elder brother George, commenced iron shipbuilding at Jarrow, in which year they launched theJohn Bowes, notable as the first screw collier. Through gradual extension the works at Jarrow have become the great establishment described in the body of this work. Many vessels of war have been built by MrPalmer’sfirm, and it was in the construction of the iron-cladTerror, in their works, at the time of the Crimean war, that rolled in place of forged armour plates were first used, the superiority of the change—since universallyrecognised—being then experimentally demonstrated at considerable cost by MrPalmer’sfirm. Among other enterprises which owe their existence wholly or partially to MrPalmermay be mentioned the General Iron Screw Collier Company, the Tyne Steam Shipping Company, several of the great lines of Atlantic and Mediterranean steamers, the Bede Metal Company, the Tyne Plate Glass Company, and Insurance Clubs for Steamers. In politics MrPalmeris a Liberal, and after unsuccessfully contesting his native town in 1868 he was, in 1874, elected M.P. for the northern division of Durham, a seat which he continues to hold. His country residence is at Grinkle Park, in Cleveland, but Parliamentary and other duties necessitate his being much in London, where he has a town house. The interest he has taken in behalf of the English shipowners has lately resulted in his appointment as one of the new English directors of the Suez Canal.
Born at South Shields, on the Tyne, in 1822. Son of Mr George Palmer, who was in early life engaged in Greenland whaling, and was subsequently a merchant and shipowner at Newcastle-on-Tyne. Was trained for a mercantile life, and having completed his education in France, became, at an early age, partner with his father in the firm of Palmer, Beckwith & Co., export merchants, timber merchants, and sawmill owners: a firm since styled Palmer, Hall & Co., and of which he is now the senior. In 1845 assumed partnership with Mr John Bowes, the late Sir William Hutt, and the late Mr Nicholas Wood, in the Marley Hill colliery and coke manufacture, and subsequently acquiringthe collieries ofLord Ravensworth & Partners, and of others, the concern known as John Bowes, Esq. & Partners, has become, under Mr Palmer’s sole management, one of the largest colliery concerns in the north of England. In 1852, in partnership at first with his elder brother George, commenced iron shipbuilding at Jarrow, in which year they launched theJohn Bowes, notable as the first screw collier. Through gradual extension the works at Jarrow have become the great establishment described in the body of this work. Many vessels of war have been built by MrPalmer’sfirm, and it was in the construction of the iron-cladTerror, in their works, at the time of the Crimean war, that rolled in place of forged armour plates were first used, the superiority of the change—since universallyrecognised—being then experimentally demonstrated at considerable cost by MrPalmer’sfirm. Among other enterprises which owe their existence wholly or partially to MrPalmermay be mentioned the General Iron Screw Collier Company, the Tyne Steam Shipping Company, several of the great lines of Atlantic and Mediterranean steamers, the Bede Metal Company, the Tyne Plate Glass Company, and Insurance Clubs for Steamers. In politics MrPalmeris a Liberal, and after unsuccessfully contesting his native town in 1868 he was, in 1874, elected M.P. for the northern division of Durham, a seat which he continues to hold. His country residence is at Grinkle Park, in Cleveland, but Parliamentary and other duties necessitate his being much in London, where he has a town house. The interest he has taken in behalf of the English shipowners has lately resulted in his appointment as one of the new English directors of the Suez Canal.
Hand-writtenYours faithfully Chas. M. Palmer (signature)INK-PHOTO, SPRAGUE & Co. LONDON.
Yours faithfully Chas. M. Palmer (signature)INK-PHOTO, SPRAGUE & Co. LONDON.