Alan Chorlton

Alan Ernest Leofric Chorlton (24 February 1874 – 6 October 1946)^[1] was a British mechanical engineer and Conservative Party politician, and was involved in the development of the internal combustion engine.^[2]

Alan Chorlton
Born	(1874-02-24)24 February 1874 Audenshaw, Lancashire, England
Died	6 October 1946(1946-10-06) (aged 72)
Education	Manchester Technical School
Engineering career
Discipline	Mechanical engineering
Institutions	Mather and Platt's ironworks
Employer(s)	Hubbard Textile Printing Works
Projects	Development of the internal combustion engine
Significant design	High speed diesel engines
Awards	Telford Premium medal

Biography

Chorlton was born om 24 February 1874, in Audenshaw. He was educated privately and at the mechanical engineering department of Manchester Technical School. He served an apprenticeship at Mather and Platt's ironworks in Salford, while studying part-time at Victoria University, Manchester.^[3]

At age 24, he became a consulting engineer to Hubbard Textile Printing Works, St Petersburg, Russia. He returned to England and the Salford Iron Works where he rose to become general works manager and was largely responsible for redesigning the Mather-Reynolds pump manufactured at the plant.^[3]

In 1913, he moved to Ruston and Hornsby at Lincoln. During the First World War he was appointed Deputy Controller of Aero Engines at the Ministry of Munitions.^[3] In 1917, he was awarded a Telford Premium medal by the Institution of Civil Engineers, and was made a Commander of the Order of the British Empire for his wartime services.^[2][3] He was also awarded the Cross of an Officer of the Order of the Crown of Italy.^[4]

From 1918 to 1928, he worked for William Beardmore and Company designing high speed diesel engines. These engines had various applications ranging from use in railcars to the R101 airship.^[3]

In 1929, he was nominated as Conservative candidate for the parliamentary constituency of Manchester Platting.^[5] Although unsuccessful on this occasion, two years later he was elected as Platting's Member of Parliament (MP), unseating the sitting Labour member, John Clynes. He was elected President of the Institute of Mechanical Engineers in 1933.^[3]

At the 1935 election, Chorlton was elected MP for Bury.^[6] In 1939, he announced he would not be standing for parliament again.^[7] He remained Bury's member of parliament until he stood down at the next election in 1945,^[6] which was delayed due to World War II.

A E L Chorlton retired from politics in 1945, and died on 6 October 1946, aged 72.^[8]