Morien Morgan
Sir Morien Bedford Morgan | |
|---|---|
| Born | Template:Birth date Bridgend, Wales |
| Died | April 4, 1978 (aged 65) |
| Occupation | Aerospace engineer |
| Known for | Father of Concorde, Director of Royal Aircraft Establishment, Master of Downing College, Cambridge |
Sir Morien Bedford Morgan CB FRS (20 December 1912 – 4 April 1978) was a distinguished Welsh aerospace engineer, often referred to as "the Father of Concorde." The majority of his professional life was dedicated to the Royal Aircraft Establishment (RAE). Later, he spent a decade at Whitehall serving as Controller of Aircraft at the Ministry of Aviation. In his final years, he held the position of master at Downing College, Cambridge.
Biography
Born in Bridgend to draper John Bedford Morgan and educator Edith Mary, Morgan was the fourth great-grandson of John Bedford. His education began at local institutions including Bridgend Primary School, Aberdare Boys' School, Canton Boys' School, and Rutlish School,[1] followed by Magdalen College School in Oxford. From 1931, he attended St Catharine's College, Cambridge. It was during his Cambridge years that his interest in aviation deepened,[2] culminating in winning the John Bernard Seely prize for aeronautics in 1934.
Following a short apprenticeship at Vickers Aviation, Morgan joined the Aerodynamics Department at the RAE in Farnborough in 1935. There he met Sylvia Axford, whom he married on 19 April 1941. The couple had three daughters: Carol, Deryn, and Gwyneth.[2]
In 1959, he departed from the RAE to take on the role of scientific advisor to the Air Ministry. Between 1960 and 1969, he occupied several positions within the Ministry.[3] He returned to lead the RAE as Director from 1969 until 1972. Notably, in 1967 he became the first Welsh individual to serve as President of the Royal Aeronautical Society.
In 1972, Morgan succeeded Prof. Keith Guthrie as Master of Downing College, Cambridge, a role he fulfilled until his passing. At Downing, his vibrant enthusiasm, affable nature combined with Welsh charm, eloquence, and passion for music endeared him to all members of the college community. His appreciation for music was particularly well recognized.
Morgan received the Companion of the Order of the Bath (CB) honour in the Queen's Birthday Honours list of 1958,[4] and was knighted as a Knight Bachelor during the New Year Honours of 1969.[5] In addition, he was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society in 1972.[2]
Supersonic Research
Morgan initiated investigations into creating a supersonic passenger aircraft in 1948. By November 1956, he assumed the role of Chairman for the newly established Supersonic Transport Aircraft Committee (STAC). Throughout the 1950s, STAC sponsored SST research across various British aerospace companies. Toward the end of that decade, STAC began the selection process for particular designs to advance. Following the consolidation of most UK aerospace firms in 1960, the committee chose the Bristol 223 as the foundation for a transatlantic supersonic concept. This Bristol project ultimately served as the groundwork for the Concorde. Morgan remarked at that time:
Throughout the Concorde program, Morgan diligently addressed both engineering challenges and political obstacles to ensure the project's advancement. From 1963—when intensive development commenced—until 1966, with prototype assembly well underway, he alternated chairing the Concorde oversight committee alongside his French counterpart, Robert Vergnaud. Considering Concorde was pioneering in its category, the relatively swift transition from design to prototype production remains remarkable (although flight testing and certification extended over a longer period). Morgan observed:
- I became convinced—and recent progress during Concorde’s prototype flight phase has reinforced this—that combining French enthusiasm with British steadiness yields exceptional results in aeronautical design and research by any measure. This partnership is one worth maintaining.[6]
References
- ↑ "Morgan Aerodynamics", BBC
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2123: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
- ↑ "Sir Morien Bedford Morgan (1912–1978)" Archived 16 March 2008 at the Wayback Machine, Bridgend County Borough Council
- ↑ Template:London Gazette
- ↑ Template:London Gazette
- ↑ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2123: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
External links
- Sir Morien Bedford Morgan (1912–1978), Aeronautical engineer, National Portrait Gallery entry