{{Short description|British businessman (1884–1962)}} {{Use dmy dates|date=March 2025}} {{Use British English|date=December 2016}} '''Frederick Gilbert Mitchell''' (20 January 1884<ref>''1939 England and Wales Register''</ref> – 8 October 1962) was an English civil engineer and businessman who founded a major international construction business and promoted the development of a new range of helicopters.
==Biography== Born on 20 January 1884, in London, Mitchell became an apprentice on the railways at age 14.<ref name=ns>{{cite web|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=dGk-B_pvnN8C&q=Fred+Mitchell+%22Royal+Corinthian%22&pg=PA518 |title=F. G. Mitchell|publisher=New Scientist|date= 5 March 1959|access-date=29 January 2019}}</ref> After working for a firm of consulting engineers as a draughtsman, he joined the engineering firm of ''Fraser and Chalmers''.<ref name=ns/> During World War I he worked as a civilian troubleshooter for Lord Kitchener.<ref name=ns/> After the War Mitchell established an engineering business in London supplying coal handling plant and boilers for power stations.<ref name=ns/> In 1933, he diversified into construction activities founding Mitchell Construction which focused on the construction of power stations<ref name=ns/> and which, after his death, was to become one of the largest construction companies in the UK.<ref>[http://www.peterborough.net/lifestyle/articles/bridgehouse100.asp Peterborough Council: What's in store for the Bridge House mural?] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100420023047/http://www.peterborough.net/lifestyle/articles/bridgehouse100.asp |date=20 April 2010 }}</ref>
His passion was sailing and in 1931 he became Commodore of the Royal Corinthian Yacht Club where he was responsible for completing the new clubhouse at Burnham-on-Crouch.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://corinthianotters.co.uk/history/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090824184411/http://corinthianotters.co.uk/history/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=24 August 2009 |publisher=Corinthian Otters|title=History|access-date=29 January 2019}}</ref> During the 1950s, Mitchell's business expanded rapidly enabling him to acquire a former minesweeper and restore it.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.edinphoto.org.uk/10/12_edinburgh_today_-_cruise_ship_ocean_mist_background.htm |publisher=Edinburgh today|title= Ocean Mist|access-date=29 January 2019}}</ref> He instituted the ''Finn Gold Cup'' for the Finn Class of Sailing in 1956.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.classefinn.it/finnatics/eng/hisfinn17_1.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060507210627/http://www.classefinn.it/finnatics/eng/hisfinn17_1.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=7 May 2006|publisher= International Finn Association|title= Finn Class|access-date=29 January 2019}}</ref>
In 1960, Mitchell together with J.S. Shapiro established ''Rotorcraft'', a business which developed the ''Grasshopper'' series of helicopters.<ref name=flight>{{cite web|url=http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1972/1972%20-%200537.html |title=The new Cierva Twins |publisher= Flight Global|year=1972|access-date=29 January 2019}}</ref>
Mitchell married Hilda Butcher in 1911, having two sons.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Frederick Gilbert Mitchell – Graces Guide|url=https://www.gracesguide.co.uk/Frederick_Gilbert_Mitchell|access-date=2020-12-28|website=gracesguide.co.uk}}</ref> Their eldest son Roy was a sailor who competed in the 1960 Olympics later succeeding his father as chairman of Mitchell Engineering Ltd.<ref>{{Cite news|date=1 June 1963|title=LEADERS OF BRITISH INDUSTRY: ROY MITCHELL|page=28|work=The Sphere|issue=3287|url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/BL/0001861/19630601/040/0028|url-access=subscription|access-date=28 December 2020|via=British Newspaper Archive}}</ref>
Mitchell lived at Clopton Manor in Northamptonshire. He died in hospital in Zurich, on 8 October 1962, aged 78.<ref>''England & Wales, National Probate Calendar (Index of Wills and Administrations), 1858-1966, 1973-1995''</ref>
==References== {{reflist}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Mitchell, Frederick Gilbert}} Category:1884 births Category:1962 deaths Category:English civil engineers Category:People from Peterborough Category:Businesspeople from London Category:20th-century English businesspeople