Biographical entry Shephard, John (1852 - 1940)

Summary

John Shephard made a micro-ruling engine for test rulings in about 1893. The only surviving rest ruling has a series of bands whose resolution goes down to one half of a micron. He was interested in microscopy and established a reputation in microscopy circles in Melbourne for which he was long remembered. Shephard was initially an apprentice then fitter with Guest & Chrimes Ltd in Rotherham, Yorkshire UK, 1863-1883). After arriving in Australia he set up Davies, Shephard & Co. - an engineering and brass founders firm in Melbourne (1884-). Shephard was a one-time President of the Royal Society of Victoria from 1912 to 1913.

Published resources

Book Sections

• Bolton, H. C., 'Shephard, John (1852-1940), Manufacturing Engineer and Microscopist', in John Ritchie and Diane Langmore (eds), Australian Dictionary of Biography, vol. 16, Melbourne University Press, Melbourne, 2002, p. 229. Also available at http://www.adb.online.anu.edu.au/biogs/A160270b.htm. Details

Online Resources

• 'Shephard, John', in Physics in Australia to 1945, R.W. Home, with the assistance of Paula J. Needham, Australian Science Archives Project, June 1995, http://www.asap.unimelb.edu.au/bsparcs/physics/P002240p.htm. Details
• National Library of Australia, 'Shephard, John', Trove, National Library of Australia and the Australian National Maritime Museum Darling Harbour, 2009, http://nla.gov.au/nla.party-1469569. Details