San Francisco County
Biographies
IRVING
MURRAY SCOTT
SCOTT, IRVING MURRAY
(deceased) Ironmaster, Mechanical Engineer and Ship Builder, San Francisco,
Cal., was born at “Hebron Mills,” Baltimore County, Maryland, December 25, 1837. He was the son of John and Elizabeth (Littig) Scott and the great-great-grandson of Abraham and
Elizabeth Dyer Scott, who emigrated to America from Cumberland, England, in 1722, bringing a certificate of good standing in the
English Society of Friends. Abraham Scott purchased a tract of land in
Maryland, known as “Old Regulation,” from Lord Baltimore in 1723, and there
established a grist mill, a fulling mill, a tan yard
and store, and from these mills the place became known as “Hebron Mills,” and
there Irving Murray Scott was born one hundred and fifteen years after his
ancestor came to America, and there his sister still resides.
He married Laura Hord, daughter of John Redd and Seaneth Tennis of Kentucky, October 7, 1863, and is survived by two children, Alice Webb and Laurance
Irving Scott.
From “Old Nick,” the
miller at Hebron Mils, he first acquired a taste for knowledge and mechanics.
He attended the
public schools and later the Milton
Academy, where he studied for three years under John Emerson
Lamb. Leaving there, he declined his father’s offer of a professional
course, preferring mechanics, and he accordingly was apprenticed to Obed Hussey, of Baltimore, inventor of the reaping machine,
with whom he learned the engineering and wood-working trades. Completing
this, he worked for several years in Baltimore supervising the construction of engines, meantime
devoting his leisure to study. He enrolled in the Mechanics’ Institute,
dividing his time between mechanical drawing, German and lectures. In 1860
Mr. Scott was engaged as a draughtsman by the Union iron Works of San
Francisco, which at that time employed only 22 men, and was chiefly engaged in
manufacture of mining machinery. In 1861 became chief draughtsman, and in
1863 a partner in business, with position of Superintendent, which was later
changed to Gen. Mgr., a post he held until his death. Under his guidance
the Union iron Works became a mammoth iron and ship building concern, with
millions of capital and thousands of men in its employ.
In 1880 Mr. Scott
made a trip around the world with James Fair, studying closely the shipyards of
England and France. When he returned he practically rebuilt the Union
Iron Plant in San
Francisco, and in
1884, when it became a corporation, he caused shipbuilding to be made a part of
its work. In addition to private vessels, it has built numerous warships
for the United
States
and other governments. The battleship “Oregon,” at the time of its completion one of the most powerful
battleships in the world, was its product. In 1898 Mr. Scott went to St. Petersburg to advise the Russian Government on battleship
construction.
Mr. Scott was largely
interested in banking, mining and other fields, and to him was largely due the
development of the Clipper Gap iron Co., one of the richest in California. Incidentally he was the inventor of improved
cut-off engines and other machines, and designed the machinery for the famous
Comstock Mines. He was vitally interested in educational, historical and
literary affairs; was president of the Art Association of the Mechanics’
Institute; regent of the University of California; trustee of the Leland
Stanford, Jr., University and the Free Library; president of the S. F. Art
Association, Washington Irvin Literary Society, Addisonian
Literary Society and the Howard Street Literary Society, and in 1880 was
president of the Authors’ Carnival. He served several terms as president
of Mechanics’ Institute. He was a fluent writer and has contributed to
magazines upon labor and other subjects. As early as 1869 Mr. Scott won
the commendation of William Seward for an address delivered before the
Mechanics’ Institute, and in later years was a popular speaker at public
gatherings and patriotic events, having delivered orations at the unveiling of
statues to Francis Scott Key and Starr King in Golden Gate Park, San
Francisco. He was a member of the State Prison Board under Governor Stoneman, and member of the staff of Governor Perkins of California.
He was at one time a
candidate for the State Senate. He also served as president, in 1891, of
the Cal. Commission to the World’s Columbian Exposition. In 1892 he made a
second trip to Europe.
He was nominated for
State Senator and delegate to form the State Constitution; member of the
Freeholders to form Charter of San Francisco, 1895; appointed member of the
Hundred to formulate a Charter for S. F., 1896; elected Rep. Presidential
elector, 1886; Pres., Commercial Museum of S. F., 1900; Chairman of Committee to
receive President McKinley, 1901; spoke of for Vice president of the United
States during McKinley’s campaign for president; made Doctor of Philosophy by
Santa Clara College for distinguished services to the State in 1901.
He was a member of
the Pacific-Union, Burlingame, Army and Navy, University, Bohemian, Union League,
Press Clubs and Society of the American Wars, of San Francisco, and the Lawyers Club and National Arts Society of New
York.
Mr. Scott died in San Francisco, April 28, 1903.
Transcribed
by 12-04-06 Marilyn R. Pankey.
Source: Press Reference
Library, Western Edition Notables of the West, Vol. I, Page 225, International News Service, New York, Chicago, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Boston, Atlanta. 1913.
©
2006 Marilyn R. Pankey.
California Biography Project
San Francisco County
California Statewide
Golden Nugget Library