Parsons, Sir Charles Algernon

Parsons, Sir Charles Algernon, 1854–1931, British engineer. He invented a revolutionary steam turbine that bears his name. His first turbines were constructed to drive generators to produce electricity. In 1897, Parsons constructed the Turbinia, the first vessel to be propelled by turbines. The ship's amazing speed immediately claimed attention and led to the construction of many turbine-propelled warships for the British navy. Parsons also invented a device for improving phonographs, pioneered in aviation, and produced a nonskid device for automobile tires.

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Parsons, Sir Charles Algernon

(born June 13, 1854, London, Eng.—died Feb. 11, 1931, Kingston Harbour, Jam.) British mechanical engineer. He began work at the Armstrong engineering works in Newcastle upon Tyne in 1877 and formed his own company to manufacture turbines and other heavy machinery in 1889. He developed the multiple-stage turbine in 1884 and had introduced it in power plants to generate electricity by 1891. Modern steam and nuclear power plants still use turbines of this type to turn their generators. He demonstrated his marine turbine in Turbinia, a vessel that attained a speed of over 34 knots in 1897; Parsons turbines made high-speed ocean liners possible.