Born in Stirling on 21 June 1809, Randolph was the son of a printer, bookseller and author. He was educated in the classics at Glasgow University but a preference for science led to further training at Anderson's University. After completing his apprenticeship with Robert Napier, the marine engineer, Randolph worked in Manchester millwright factories before returning to Glasgow. In 1834 he started his own firm and orders came in from the Selkirk woollen mills and the Dundee linen factories.
After John Elder joined as a partner in 1852, the firm began making marine engines, a sideline that was to supersede the original work. By 1868, when Randolph retired, 111 engines had been built, along with 106 ships and three floating docks. Patents taken out included improvements to the compound engine.
Randolph undertook various executive positions following retirement, and on his death, on 11 November 1878, left £60,000 to Glasgow University.
MR. RANDOLPH was a native of Stirling, and was born on 21st June, 1809. His father,(*) Charles Randall, was a printer and bookseller there, and author of a History of Stirling. The first portion of Mr. Randolph's education was obtained at the High School of Stirling, and the more advanced portion at the Grammar School of Glasgow. He afterwards attended the University of that city, taking Latin, Greek, and Logic in the usual order of sequence, though he often remarked that neither Latin nor Greek was ever in his way. But although he had little or no taste for the classics, he manifested a strong predilection for science, and was one of the most successful of the students who sat in the Andersonian University at the feet of Dr. Andrew Ure, the well-known author of the Dictionary of Arts, Manufactures, and Mines.
Shortly after leaving college he became apprenticed to the late Robert Napier, then of Camlachie. Mr. Napier soon began to build marine engines, and transferred his business to the Vulcan Forge in Washington Street. After completing his apprenticeship he went to Manchester, and worked in two of the millwright establishments there. Having made himself familiar with the best engineering practice, and with all branches of millwright work, he returned to Glasgow and commenced business on his own account. In October, 1834, he began by erecting an engine shop in Centre Street, upon the site afterwards occupied by the marine engineering works of Randolph Elder & Co. The shop first built was small - being not more than 60 feet in length by 40 feet in breadth, and the machinery was driven by a little engine of 3 horse-power. The orders obtained were for some time insignificant, but Mr. Randolph soon became noted for his ability and energy, and was afterwards called upon to execute a large amount of work in the Glasgow district, in the woollen mills about Selkirk, and in the linen factories of Dundee and elsewhere.
Mr. John Elliot, whom Mr. Randolph knew as an outdoor manager in one of the Manchester firms, was assumed as a partner in 1839, and the firm became known thenceforth as Randolph Elliot & Co. Orders were received in larger numbers and of greater importance than before; and a very considerable amount of work was obtained from the North of Ireland. The special business carried on at Centre Street was that which is comprised in the general term of millwright engineering, and included the fitting of appliances for controlling and conveying power in spinning mills, weaving mills, print works, paper mills, gunpowder mills, and almost every kind of work in which steam or water power was used. Mr. Elliot died in 1842, but the business still continued to progress. The works were extended from time to time; and for a considerable period the greater part of the millwright work in Scotland was done in them.
Apart from its extension, no material change took place in the Centre Street business until 1852, when the late Mr. John Elder joined Mr. Randolph as a partner, and the firm became that of Randolph Elder & Co. Soon after Mr. Elder's accession, the construction of marine engines was commenced. The marine engineering business rapidly increased, and was carried on alongside the ordinary millwright work of the firm; but it was destined before long to become so extensive as to entirely supersede the original business. Randolph Elder & Co. added shipbuilding to their other undertakings in 1858; and by the end of the next ten years, when Mr. Randolph retired from the firm, they had constructed 111 sets of marine engines, of 20,145 nominal horse-power in the aggregate, and had built no fewer then 106 vessels, of an aggregate tonnage amounting to 81,326 tons, beside three floating docks.
Many patents were taken out by the firm; some in the joint names of Mr. Randolph and Mr. Elder, and some in the name of Mr. Elder alone. To the former class pertain the patents for the chief improvements in the compound engine. We should, we think, be doing an act of injustice were we to attribute the exclusive merit of these improvements either to the one patentee or to the other. Each of them was possessed of a keen and devisive intellect, and also of very great powers of application and concentration - the intellect of Mr. Randolph, however, being quite as keen and devisive, and his powers of application and concentration quite as remarkable as those of Mr. Elder. Both had been led to consider the subject at an early period, and they worked at it, not only in common, but also in hearty co-operation. We believe, therefore, that no account of the great improvements made by the firm in marine engineering will do justice unless it proclaims that the merit falls to be credited neither wholly to the one partner nor wholly to the other, neither in unequal shares, but quite as much to Mr. Randolph as to Mr. Elder.
Mr. Randolph retired from business in the year 1868; but he continued to work actively in many ways in which his professional knowledge and skill were of service. He also entered the Clyde Trust, and sat for several years as one of its members. He wrote pamphlets and letters upon the sewage question, upon the extension of the harbour, and upon the improvement of the navigation. He applied himself also to the question of steam traction on common roads and streets. He became engaged in several commercial undertakings, two of which have been very successful, viz., the British and African Steam Navigation Co., and the British Dynamite Co., now known as Nobel's Explosives Company, Limited. He was chairman of the latter company from its origin till the time of his death.
No person whose name is recorded in the annals of the University of Glasgow has acted more liberally towards that ancient seat of learning than Mr. Randolph. By his last will, made about a year before his death, and when his fortune had become considerable, he bequeathed to the University £60,000, besides the residue of his means and estate. Of this more than princely gift part has been devoted to the erection of a hall, which is known as the Randolph Hall. It is proper we should add, by way of showing how long and deeply-seated was his desire to benefit the great institution of which he was an alumnus, that in a will made by him as far back as 1858, he constituted the University his principal beneficiary, or chief legatee. Gratefully may the University say - sit ei fama non peritura.
Mr. Randolph died on 11th November, 1878, and was buried in his native town. He left a widow, who survives him, and is now resident in London.
We cannot conclude this brief memoir without adding that Mr. Randolph possessed great kindness of heart, and great consideration for the feelings of others; that he was of a genial and liberal disposition; and that he never judged of others otherwise than charitably and generously.
(*) The father of Mr. Randall, and grandfather of Mr. Randolph, was a surgeon. He was "out" in the Rebellion of 1745, and was for some time immured in Carlisle Castle as a prisoner of war. This induced the son to adopt the modified name of Randall but the grandson, Charles, reverted to the original patronymic.
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