Alan Ernest Leofric Chorlton

Alan Ernest Leofric Chorlton (February 24 1874 - October 6, 1946) was a British mechanical engineer and Conservative politician, and was involved in the development of the internal combustion engine."Civil Engineering Awards", The Times, November 12, 1917, p.5]

Chorlton was born in Audenshaw, Lancashire. He was educated privately at in the mechanical engineering department of Manchester Technical School. He served an apprenticeship at Mather and Platt's ironworks in Salford, while studying part time at Victoria University, Manchester.cite web |url=http://heritage.imeche.org/historyimeche/pastpresidents/president/AlanELChorlton.htm |title=Alan E L Chorlton |accessdate=2008-09-16 |author= |date= |work=Engineering Heritage |publisher=Institution of Mechanical Engineers]

At the age of 24 he became a consulting engineer to Hubbard Textile Printing Works, St Petersburg, Russia. He returned to England and the Salford Iron Works where he rose to become general works manager and was largely responsible for redesigning the Mather-Reynolds pump manufactured at the plant.

In 1913 he moved to Ruston and Hornsby at Lincoln. During the First World War he was appointed Deputy Controller of Aero Engines at the Ministry of Munitions. In 1917 he was awarded a Telford Premium medal by the Institute of Civil Engineers, and was made a Commander of the British Empire for his wartime services. He was also awarded the Cross of an Officer of the Order of the Crown of Italy. ["Foreign Decorations", The Times, April 21, 1919, p.17]

From 1918 to 1928 he worked for William Beardmore and Company designing high speed diesel engines. These engines had various applications ranging from use in railcars to the R101 airship.

In 1929 he was nominated as Conservative candidate for the parliamentary constituency of Manchester Platting. ["The Manchester Group: Unionist Challenge to Labour", The Times, May 15, 1929, p.8] Although unsuccessful on this occassion, two years later he was elected MP, unseating the sitting Labour member, John Clynes. He was elected President of the Institute of Mechanical Engineers in 1933.

At the 1935 election, Chorlton was elected MP for Bury. In 1939 he announced he would not be standing for parliament again. ["News in Brief", The Times, March 18, 1939, p.7] He remained Bury's member of parliament until the next election in 1945, which was delayed due to the Second World War.

A E L Chorlton retired from politics in 1945, and died in the following year, aged seventy-two. ["Obituary", The Times, October 7, 1946, p.4]

References