James Archibald Robertson

• Birth date            14 June 1869 at Stirlin
• Death date          29th July, 1936 at Buxton

James Archibald Robertson received his technical education at the Glasgow and West of Scotland Technical College, and his practical training with the Liverpool Electric Supply Company and, later, with Messrs Mavor and Coulson of Glasgow. From 1902-1914 he held the post of Burgh Electrical Engineer at Greenock, where he was responsible for the construction of the Dellingburn Power Station, having a capacity of 12,000 kW.

In March 1914 he was appointed borough electrical engineer at Salford, where he completely reorganized the electricity works at Frederick Road. In 1915 he placed before the Corporation plans for a new generating station, but owing to war restrictions the scheme was held in abeyance. Further turbo-alternators were therefore installed at Frederick Road. Three-phase 6,600-volt transmission was adopted for the whole area, and in 1918 the first 33 000-volt underground line in the country was laid between the Moss Side substation of Manchester Corporation and the Frederick Road works at Salford. After the war, the question of a new generating station was again considered and J A. Robertson prepared plans for a 50 000-kW station to be erected on the bank of River Irwell at Agecroft. At the end of 1921 his plans and estimates were accepted but on 1 March 1922 he announced his resignation. He was however retained as consultant to supervise the construction of Agecroft Power Station. Construction work commenced in January 1923 and the station was commissioned in 1925 with 12,500-kW turbo-alternators, the first 3000 rpm. machines of this size to be ordered in this country.

As a consultant engineer, he was engaged by the National Electric Supply Co. of Preston in connection with the sale of their undertaking to Preston Corporation. He also advised the Stretford Council regarding the purchase of Trafford power station from the Trafford Park Light and Power Co.

James Archibald Robertson died on the 29th July 1936, aged 68 at his home, Brooklands, Temple Road, Buxton