The Times/1906/Obituary/James Dredge

Layout 2By the death, which occurred on Wednesday, at the age of 66, of Mr. James Dredge, C.M.G., the scientific world loses one who has played a prominent part in the engineering profession for many years past. He was joint editor with Mr. W. H. Maw of the well-known technical journal Engineering—a publication which has done much to advance the cause of mechanical science during the last 40 years. Mr. Dredge was born in Bath, his father being well known as the designer of suspension bridges, some of which he built at his own risk in order to get his ideas put into practical shape. From a financial point of view this was not successful, but the end was gained that the "Dredge Suspension" became established. On coming to London in 1853 Mr. James Dredge entered the office of the late Mr. D. K. Clarke, and in 1862 he joined the staff of the late Sir John Fowler and was engaged in work connected with the construction of the Metropolitan District Railway, and also with other undertakings which were under the control of this great engineer. At the end of 1865 he became associated with the late Zerah Colburn, who was then commencing the publication of Engineering, and in 1870, on the death of Mr. Colburn, he became a joint editor of the journal. Mr. Dredge took great interest in the various international exhibitions held both in this country and abroad.. he was created a Companion of the Order of St. Michael and St. George for his services as Commissioner-General for Great Britain at the Brussels Exhibition of 1897. He was a member of the Institution of Civil Engineers, of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, and some other engineering societies.