Roderick Chisholm (engineer): Difference between revisions

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{{Short description|Scottish naval architect (1868–1912)}}

{{More citations needed|date=February 2024}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2024}}

{{Infobox person

| name = Roderick Chisholm

| image =

| image_size =

| caption =

| birth_date = {{Birthbirth yeardate|1872df=y|1868|12|20}}

| nationality = British

| birth_place = [[Dumbarton]], Dunbartonshire, Scotland

| birth_name = Roderick Chisholm

| death_date = {{Death date and age|df=y|1912|4|15|18721868|12|20}}

| birth_date = {{Birth year|1872}}

| birth_place = [[Dumbarton]], Dunbartonshire, Scotland

| death_date = {{Death date and age|df=y|1912|4|15|1872}}

| death_place = {{RMS|Titanic}}, Atlantic Ocean

| known_for = Co-designerNaval architect – {{RMS|Titanic}}

| occupation = [[Shipbuilding|Shipbuilder]]

| spouse = {{marriage|Susan Anderson (1897–1912) (his death)|1897}}

| children = {{UBL| Alice Chisholm (1897–2002) | James Chisholm (1899–1960) }}

| children =

* Alice Chisholm (1897–2002)

* James Chisholm (1899–1960)

}}

'''Roderick Chisholm''' (187220 December 1868 – 15 April 1912) was a Scottish-born ships' draughtsman who served as chief [[draftsman]] at [[Harland & Wolff]]. He diedmet whenhis demise aboard the {{RMS|Titanic}} when she [[Sinking of the RMS Titanic|''Titanic'' sank onduring her maiden voyage]].

He was notable for designing the [[Olympic-class ocean liner|''Olympic'' class-liners]] amongst longstanding architect [[Alexander Carlisle]] – until his retirement in 1910 – as well as [[Thomas Andrews]].

He co-designed the [[RMS Titanic|RMS ''Titanic'']] with [[Thomas Andrews]].

==Early life and education==

Chisholm was born in [[Dumbarton]] in 1872.<ref name=":0">{{Cite news |date=12 April 2012 |title=Roderick Chisholm: Men associated with greatness |url=https://www.proquest.com/newspapers/roderick-chisholm/docview/1001025436/se-2 |access-date=2024-02-25 |work=Belfast Telegraph |viaid=[[{{ProQuest]]|1001025436}} }}</ref> Beginning in 1881, the family lived in the village of [[Old Kilpatrick]], in [[Dunbartonshire]], [[Scotland]].

== Career Occupation==

in 1891 Chisholm moved to [[Clydebank]].{{Citation needed|date=February 2024}} He worked for [[Harland & Wolff|Harland and Wolff]] at their Clyde works.<ref name=":0" />{{verify inline|date=July 2024}} The subsequent year, he moved to [[Belfast]] to work in their primary shipyards, where he rapidly rose through the ranks, eventually becoming a draftsman.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Roderick Chisholm |url=https://www.titanicbelfast.com/history-of-titanic/titanic-stories/roderick-chisholm/ |access-date=2024-07-21 |website=titanicbelfast.com |language=en-GB}}</ref>

At some point over the next six years, he met his wife, Susan Anderson, before subsequently marrying her in [[Lisburn]], County Down in 1897; They had two children, Alice in 1897, and James in 1899. They moved into the [[Pottinger (District Electoral Area)|Pottinger]] area of eastern Belfast shortly afterwards.

At age 20, he moved to [[Belfast]].<ref name=":0" /> His skill led him, in the years to come, to the design of the [[RMS Olympic|RMS ''Olympic'']] and ''Titanic'' transatlantic.{{Citation needed|date=February 2024}}

===On the ''Titanic''===

Chisholm worked closely with [[ThomasAndrews Andrews]]and Carlisle on the design of the ''Olympic'' and ''[[Titanic]]'', andhaving wasa knowledgeableparamount aboutrole itsin conceiving her structure.<ref name=":0" />{{Cite Heweb was|title=Roderick selectedChisholm as one of only a handful of employees of Harland and Wolff to overseeon the smooth running of ''Titanic''{{'s}} maiden voyage.<ref name=":0" />

|url=https://roderickchisholm.wordpress.com/notes/ |access-date=2024-07-21 |website=www.roderickchisholm.wordpress.com |date=13 November 2013 |language=en-GB}}</ref> He was selected as one amidst nine other Harland & Wolff employees to witness the smooth operation of ''Titanic''{{'s}} maiden voyage, in what was known as the "[[Guarantee Group]]", a team dedicated towards appointing those who have esteemed themselves in merit throughout the vessels' own development.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Harland & Wolff: Titanic Guarantee Group |url=https://www.encyclopedia-titanica.org/titanic-guarantee-group/ |access-date=2024-07-21 |website=www.encyclopedia-titanica.org |language=en-GB}}</ref>

Throughout the voyage on ''Titanic'', he participated in regular inspection of her mechanisms as well as functions, routinely writing notes regarding their overall status before disclosing them with Andrews. Should any anomalies have been discovered during the journey, they were swiftly recorded within the ships' entries in the logbook. She then would have undergone immediate changes as soon as possible following the maiden voyage. Chisholm regularly spent his leisure within first class discussing business and politics amongst other passengers.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Voyage and Outcome |url=https://roderickchisholm.wordpress.com/voyage-and-outcome/ |access-date=2024-07-21 |website=www.roderickchisholm.wordpress.com |date=15 November 2013 |language=en-GB}}</ref>

In the night of 14 April 1912, the ''Titanic'' fatally impacted an iceberg sinking hours later; Chisholm died in the sinking. His body, if recovered, was never identified. His assets amounted to about 140 pounds, of which the widow became beneficiary.

On the night of 14 April 1912, the ''Titanic'' fatally struck an iceberg before sinking two hours and forty-minutes later; Chisholm never survived.<ref>''Belfast Weekly News'', 25 April 1912, The Queen's Island Representatives.</ref> His body, if recovered, was never identified.<ref>''Larne Times'', 27 April 1912, Queen's Island, a day of mourning.</ref> His assets amounted to about 140 pounds, of which his widow became the beneficiary, worth just over £20,000 in modern terms, on 10 June 1912.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Roderick Chisholm – Member of the Harland & Wolff Guarantee Group |url=https://www.encyclopedia-titanica.org/titanic-victim/roderick-chisholm.html |access-date=2024-07-21 |website=encyclopedia-titanica.org |date=31 October 1999 |language=en-GB}}</ref>

== Personal life and legacy ==

In 1897, he married Susan Anderson in [[Lisburn]], County Down; the couple had two children: Alice (1897–2002) and James (1899–1960), both born in [[Belfast]].{{fact|date=July 2024}}

His wife remained at Sandford Avenue, in [[Pottinger (District Electoral Area)|Pottinger]] (Belfast) for the rest of her life and died on 22 February 1961 at the age of 87. She is buried in [[Roselawn Cemetery]], Belfast, with her son Jamesand daughter. His daughter Alice married in Belfast in 1919 with Alfred McCambley (1894–1976) and died on 11 February 2002 at the age of 104 and she is also buried in the Roselawn Cemetery. His son James, never marrying, later followed his own profession as a draughtsman, and received ownership of his late father's residence until he died on 18 September 1960.

==Portrayals==

His wife remained at Sandford Avenue, in [[Pottinger (District Electoral Area)|Pottinger]] (Belfast) for the rest of her life and died on 22 February 1961 at the age of 87. She is buried in [[Roselawn Cemetery]], Belfast, with her son James. His daughter Alice married in Belfast in 1919 with Alfred McCambley (1894–1976) and died on 11 February 2002 at the age of 104 and she is also buried in the Roselawn Cemetery.

* Christopher Patrick Nolan (2005) - ''Titanic: Birth of a Legend''; TV Documentary

== References ==