Magnus Mowat

Brigadier-General Magnus Mowat (1875–1953) was a Scottish railway engineer. From 1920 to 1938 he was Secretary of the Institute of Mechanical Engineers. Life He was born on 10 November 1875 the son of the Hon Magnus Mowat in Aberdeenshire. He was educated at Aberdeen Grammar School then Blackheath High School in London. He then studied engineering at King's College, London. He served an apprenticeship at the North British Railway Works at Cowlairs. His first employment as an Engineer was as assistant in building the Leicester section for the Great Central Railway. From 1899 to 1901 he was engineer to the Grand Indian Peninsular Railway. In 1901 he joined Robert McAlpine & Son as engineer for the new Partick drainage system. In 1905 he joined Millwall Dock Company later being promoted to Chief Engineer and General Manager of the company. He then joined the London Port Authority. He had been a senior officer in the Territorial Army's formation in 1909 and during the First World War he served as a senior commander in the Royal Engineers then was appointed Commandant of the School of Heavy Bridging and Commands Road Director at the War office.