Sir Frederick Lobnitz (1863-1932), shipbuilder and government minister.
Born in Renfrew, Lobnitz joined the family shipbuilding business of Lobnitz & Co in the town. Part of his apprenticeship was served at the Fairfield Shipyard in Govan. In 1890 he became a partner with his father, Henry Christian Lobnitz, a Danish immigrant who had founded the Lobnitz & Co. The firm specialised in building dredgers and rock breakers, which they supplied to the Clyde Navigation Trust and to customers around the world. They were involved in the construction of both the Suez and the Panama canals.
Lobnitz worked at the Ministry of Munitions during the First World War and became Director of Munitions in Scotland. His tireless efforts in promoting munitions production earned him a knighthood as well as the Legion of Honour from a grateful French Republic.
After the war, Lobnitz returned to his company and became chairman in 1920. He remained at the head of Lobnitz & Co until his death in 1932.
Reference: Mitchell Library, GC052 BAI
Reproduced with the permission of Glasgow City Council, Libraries Information and Learning
Keywords:
armaments, Danes, dredgers, Fairfield Engineering and Shipbuilding Co, Fairfield Shiptard, First World War, Legion of Honour, Lobnitz & Co, Ministry of Munitions, Panama Canal, rock breakers, shipbuilders, shipbuilding, shipyards, Suez Canal
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