Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Randolph, Charles
RANDOLPH, CHARLES (1809–1878), marine engineer, son of Charles Randolph, bookseller and printer in Stirling, and author of a history of that city, was born there on 21 June 1809. He was first educated at the high school of Stirling, and subsequently at the high school and university of Glasgow. On showing a liking for mechanical engineering, he was apprenticed to Robert Napier (1791–1876) [q. v.] at Camlachie. He afterwards went to Manchester, where he worked in the leading millwright firms of Ormerod and Fairbairn & Lillie. In 1834 he returned to Glasgow, where he started business as an engineer and millwright. He was noted for his energy and ability, and was at once successful. From 1839 to 1842 he was joined in partnership by John Elliot, who died in the latter year. In 1852 he was joined by John Elder, the name of the firm becoming Randolph, Elder, & Co. Thenceforth Randolph turned his attention from millwright engineering to the manufacture of compound engines adapted to the propulsion of screw steamers. In 1858 the firm began shipbuilding on their own account, and 106 vessels had been built before 1886, together with 111 sets of marine engines, and three floating docks, one of which, at Saigon, was large enough to float the Gloire, then the largest ironclad in the French navy. Randolph retired in 1868. The firm was afterwards converted into the well-known Fairfield Shipbuilding Company, builders of the fast Atlantic liners.
On retiring from business, Randolph turned his attention by speech and pamphlet to the sewage question, the extension of Glasgow harbour, and the improvement of the Clyde navigation. He entered the Clyde trust, where he did yeoman service, was a director of the Glasgow and South-Western Railway, and also of the British and African Steam Navigation Company, and chairman of the British Dynamite Company, now Nobel's Explosives Company. He also devoted some of his leisure to the construction of a steam-engine for a family carriage, which was a familiar object in the Glasgow streets. Randolph died on 11 Nov. 1878, survived by his wife, Margaret Sainte-Pierre, who died on 19 Aug. 1894. He bequeathed to the university of Glasgow 60,000l., as well as the residue of his means and estate on the death of his widow. The Randolph Hall in the university was erected with a portion of the funds.
[Engineering, 22 Nov. 1878; One Hundred Glasgow Men, vol. ii (with portrait); Irving's Eminent Scotsmen.]