1991: Tom D Pattern

1991: Tom D Pattern

 

Tom D. Pattern (1926-1999)

106th President of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers 

Patten was born in 1926.

He was educated at Leith Academy, then attended Edinburgh University, where he obtained a BSc and PhD. He was a Captain in the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers, serving between 1946 and 1948.

In 1950 he began working as Assistant Lecturer in the Department of Engineering, Edinburgh University, later working as Lecturer and Senior Lecturer. He remained at Edinburgh University until 1967.

He then moved to Heriot-Watt University, where he set up and became Director of the Institute of Offshore Engineering. He also assisted with the formation of the departments of petroleum engineering and offshore engineering and the Heriot-Watt Marine Technology Centre. After reaching the position of Vice-Chancellor of Heriot-Watt University, he left in 1982 to develop his technological, industrial and commercial interests.

In 1981, he was appointed a Commander of the Order of the British Empire.

He was Chairman of Sealand Industries, on the supervisory board of the National Engineering Laboratory, and Director and Chairman of Marine Technology Directorate.

Pattern died in 1999.

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