# Arthur Duckham

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**Sir Arthur McDougall Duckham** (8 July 1879 – 14 February 1932) was one of the founders of the [Institution of Chemical Engineers](/source/Institution_of_Chemical_Engineers), and its first president.[1]

Duckham was born in [Blackheath, London](/source/Blackheath,_London), the second son of a [Falmouth](/source/Falmouth,_Cornwall)-born mechanical and civil engineer, Frederic Eliot Duckham (1841 – died 13 January 1918 in Blackheath), who had patented improvements in governors for marine engines and invented a 'Hydrostatic Weighing Machine'.[2] His mother was Maud Mary McDougall (1849–1921), sister of [John McDougall](/source/John_McDougall_(British_politician)) of the flour-making family, which had a mill at [Millwall Dock](/source/Millwall_Dock). His older brother was [Alexander Duckham](/source/Alexander_Duckham), notable for the development of machine lubricants.

Arthur Duckham became a trainee gas engineer, while also taking evening classes at [King's College, London](/source/King's_College,_London), and was appointed assistant superintendent of a London [gasworks](/source/Gasworks). Along with Harold Woodall he formed a company, Woodall-Duckham, which developed the continuous [vertical retort](/source/History_of_manufactured_gas#Retort_bench) for manufacturing [gas](/source/Coal_gas) from [coal](/source/Coal).[1][3]

He married Maud Peppercorn, daughter of [Arthur Douglas Peppercorn](/source/Arthur_Douglas_Peppercorn), and they had three children.[3]

During the [First World War](/source/First_World_War) he was involved in the supply of coal-derived chemicals for use in the manufacture of explosives, becoming Deputy Controller of Munitions Supply in 1915. He performed a number of other executive and advisor roles, notably Chairman of the Advisory Committee, [Ministry of Munitions](/source/Ministry_of_Munitions), which resulted in his being knighted with the [Order of the Bath](/source/Order_of_the_Bath) (KCB).[4] He was eventually Director of Aircraft Production.[1] He also received the [Légion d'honneur](/source/L%C3%A9gion_d'honneur) (Cross of Officer).[5]

After the war his business flourished, expanding into other areas of [chemical engineering](/source/Chemical_engineering). He joined the [Institution of Civil Engineers](/source/Institution_of_Civil_Engineers) (which then included all non-military engineers) in 1918, but chaired the committee which created the Institution of Chemical Engineers, and became its first president.[3]

In 1928 he led a British trade mission to [Australia](/source/Australia), and following this received a further knighthood, [GBE](/source/Knight_Grand_Cross_of_the_British_Empire).[6]

In Ashstead he offered land to the Girl Guide movement for a new headquarters and was president of the Leatherhead Bowling Club.[7]

He died 14 February 1932 at [Ashtead](/source/Ashtead), [Surrey](/source/Surrey).[3]

## References

1. ["Sir Arthur McDougall Duckham KCB: 1923—1925"](https://www.icheme.org/about-us/people/presidents/sir-arthur-mcdougall-duckham/). *www.icheme.org*. IChemE. Retrieved 1 February 2022.

1. ["Frederic Eliot Duckham"](http://www.gracesguide.co.uk/Frederic_Eliot_Duckham). *Grace's Guide*. Retrieved 18 June 2016.

1. [Oxford Dictionary of National Biography](/source/Oxford_Dictionary_of_National_Biography) accessed 28 July 2009

1. [London Gazette](http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/29938/pages/1458) 9 February 1917 page 1458

1. [London Gazette](http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/32095/pages/10197) [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20140201174036/http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/32095/pages/10197) 1 February 2014 at the Wayback Machine 22 October 1920 page 101197

1. [London Gazette](http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/33501/supplements/3675) 31 May 1929 page 3675

1. "Sir A. Duckham: Sudden Death at Ashstead". *The Sutton and Cheam Advertiser*. 18 February 1932. p. 12.

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