xxxviii Annual Report of the Council. 



returned to Bedlington to manage the Locomotive Factory at 

 the Bedlington Iron Works, which at that time belonged to his 

 father. In connection with the business of the works he 

 travelled in Belgium, France, Spain, Germany and Russia, and 

 acquired a working knowledge of the languages of all these 

 countries except the last. 



He retained the management of the Locomotive Factory till 

 it was closed in 1853. In 1848 he married Elizabeth Selby, 

 daughter of Colonel Thomas Stirling Begbie, 82nd Regiment; 

 by whom he had one son and two daughters. 



On the death of his wife in 1853 he left Bedlington, and in 

 the following year began the work with which his name will 

 always be associated, by becoming the first Chief Inspector of 

 an Institution, founded by Fairbairn, Whitworth, Houldsworth 

 and others, which is now known as the Manchester Steam Users' 

 Association for the prevention of Boiler Explosions and the 

 Attainment of Economy in the Application of Steam. 



Mr. Longridge devoted his chief attention to the last-named 

 object, but when the penalising law against insurance was re- 

 moved, the Association would not offer these advantages to its 

 members and he therefore resigned his appointment in 1859, and, 

 in conjunction with William McNaught, Charles S. Galloway, and 

 others, established the Steam Boiler Assurance Company (sub- 

 sequently the Boiler Insurance and Steam Power Company and 

 now the Vulcan Boiler and General Insurance Company), of 

 which he became Chief Engineer. 



In its turn this Company refused to extend insurance to engine 

 damages and in 1878 Mr. Longridge left it to found the Engine 

 Boiler Insurance Company (now the British Engine, Boiler and 

 Electrical Insurance Company), to inspect Engines and Electrical 

 Machinery, as well as Boilers, and insure them against " break- 

 down." He remained the Chairman of this Company till 191 1. 

 He carried out some valuable experiments on the strength of 

 riveted joints which were published by his company. He died 

 peacefully on the 31st July, 19 14, full of years and honoured by 

 all who knew him. Many of these have passed away, but the 



