Biographical entry Butters, John Henry (1885 - 1969)

Summary

(Sir) John Henry Butters was an engineer with the Tasmanian Hydro- Electric Department from 1914-24 and in 1925-29 was Chief Commissioner of the Federal Capital Commission. He maintained a private consulting engineering practice until 1954.

Details

Born Alverstoke, Hampshire, England, 23 December 1885. Died Turramurra, New South Wales, 29 July 1969. MBE 1920, CMG 1923, knighted 1927. Educated Hartley University College, Southampton (University of London intermediate bachelor of science (engineering) degree and first-class certificate for electrical engineering from Hartley College 1904). Apprentice and improver, John I. Thornycroft & Co. Ltd, shipbuilders and engineers of Southampton1904-05, technical department, Siemens Brothers Dynamo Works Ltd 1905-08, assistant engineer, head office, London 1908-09, chief engineer, Australasian branch, Melbourne 1909-11, engineer-in-chief and manager, Hydro-Electric Power and Metallurgical Co. Ltd 1911-14, chief engineer and general manager, Hydro-Electric Department, Tasmania 1914-24, chairman, Federal Capital Commission 1924--29, consulting engineer, Sydney 1929-54, director of a large range of companies. President, Tasmanian Institution of Engineers 1918, chairman, Tasmanian division, Institution of Engineers, Australia 1920, president, Institution of Engineers, Australia 1927-28, president, Royal Automobile Club of Australia 1937-49. Commemorated by Butters Drive, Phillip, ACT.

Events

1920

Award - Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE)

1927

Award - Knighted

1927

Award - Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George (CMG)

Archival resources

National Library of Australia Manuscript Collection

• John Henry Butters - Records, 1921 - 1963, MS 4990; National Library of Australia Manuscript Collection. Details

Published resources

Online Resources

• 'Butters, John', Trove, National Library of Australia, 2009, http://nla.gov.au/nla.party-527024. Details