McGregor Josiah (1841 – 1917)
Josiah McGregor Member of the Institute of Chartered Engineers (M.I.C.E) 1841-1917 – 1 Vermont Road – 1885 -1892
Born in Glasgow, Scotland, he served an apprenticeship with Robert Napier and sons (Clyde shipbuilders and marine engineers based at Govan, Glasgow), beginning in 1855. He worked for them until 1865, when he joined the British Indian Steam Company in Calcutta as a superintendent engineer. In 1870 he became chief engineer of the government dockyard at Calcutta in which capacity he designed and supervised the construction of Steamers, Machinery etc, and was made president of the board of examiners of engineers in India. He was elected Member of the Institute of Civil Engineers in 1879.
In Bolton’s paper “the progress of inland river navigation in South East India from 1832”, presented to the Institute of Civil Engineers in 1889, it was stated that “Josiah McGregor had large experience in the construction of steamers of light draught for river service”. As a consequence he had been entrusted with the construction of the steamers ordered by India’s Assam Government in 1881 which were intended to improve the service on the Brahmapootra river, guaranteeing a daily despatch service of four days between Calcutta and Dibrugarhon.”
“ The vessels designed by Mr. McGregor realized expectations in every respect, and are to the present day doing good service from Dhubri to Dibrugarh, running in connection with the Eastern Bengal Railway system from Dhubri.” The steamers would bring their merchandise of jute and tea through the treacherous tributaries of the Brahmaputra, and Hooghly and return laden with basic supplies for the riverine towns and cities. These vessels worked together with the railway companies. Passengers were transported in both directions, often connecting to railway services at hubs such as Guwahati and Goalundo.”
He redesigned the type and design of stern-wheel steamboats, a number of which were built to his designs by Bow, McLachlan & Co., Paisley for the Argentinian Government.
His sons Marcus Mcgregor (lived at Glenisla, 1 Vermont Road, when attending Dulwich College) and Ronald Malcolm Mcgregor (born at 1 Vermont Road, lived at Harold road when attending Dulwich College) were both first world war casualties.
They are remembered at Dulwich College:
https://dulwichcollege1914-18.co.uk/fallen/mcgregor-m/
https://dulwichcollege1914-18.co.uk/fallen/mcgregor-rm/
and on the memorial tablet at St Andrews Presbyterian Church in Westow Street where the family worshipped (now the Greek Orthodox Church of St Constantine and St Helen).
https://www.iwm.org.uk/memorials/item/memorial/10935
Josiah McGregor and his family lived at several addresses in Upper Norwood, with his family living subsequently in Harold road, then Victoria road (1901 and 1911 censuses).