Roderick Chisholm (engineer): Difference between revisions

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{{Infobox person

| name = Roderick Chisholm

| image =

| image_size =

| caption =

| birth_date = {{birth date|df=y|1868|12|20}}

| birth_place = [[Dumbarton]], Scotland

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| known_for = Naval architect – {{RMS|Titanic}}

| occupation = [[Shipbuilding|Shipbuilder]]

| spouse = {{marriage|Susan Anderson|1897-1912}}

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

}}

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'''Roderick Chisholm''' (20 December 1868 – 15 April 1912) was a Scottish ships' draughtsman who served as chief [[draftsman]] at [[Harland & Wolff]]. He met his demise aboard the {{RMS|Titanic}} when she [[Sinking of the Titanic|sank during 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]].

==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/docview/1001025436 |access-date=2024-02-25 |work=Belfast Telegraph |id={{ProQuest|1001025436}} |via=[[ProQuest]]}}</ref> Beginning in 1881, the family lived in the village of [[Old Kilpatrick]], in [[Dunbartonshire]], [[Scotland]].

==Occupation==

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|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 underwentundergone 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>

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 ==

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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 and 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==

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

== References ==