Charles Algernon Parsons

Sir
Charles Algernon Parsons
OM KCB FRS
Sir Charles Algernon Parsons OM KCB FRS
Born	13 June 1854; London, England
Died	11 February 1931 (aged 76); Duchess of Richmond
Resting place	Church of St Bartholomew, Northumberland
Education	Trinity College Dublin (B.A., 1871); St John's College, Cambridge (M.A., 1877);
Occupations	Engineer; inventor;
Known for	Inventing the modern steam turbine (1884)
Notable work	Turbinia (1894)
Spouse	Katharine Bethell (m. 1883)
Children	2, including Rachel
Parents	William Parsons, 3rd Earl of Rosse; Mary Field;
Relatives	Lawrence Parsons, 4th Earl of Rosse (brother)
Awards	FRS (1898); Rumford Medal (1902); Albert Medal (1911); Bakerian Medal (1918); Franklin Medal (1920); Faraday Medal (1923); Kelvin Gold Medal (1926); Copley Medal (1928); Bessemer Gold Medal (1929);
Honours	Order of the Bath (Knight Commander, 1911); Order of Merit (1927);
	Engineering career
Discipline	Mechanical engineering
Employer(s)	C. A. Parsons and Company; Parsons Marine Steam Turbine Company
Significant advance	Heat engine; Steamship
Awards	Engineering Heritage Award (1995)

Sir Charles Algernon Parsons (13 June 1854 – 11 February 1931) was an Anglo-Irish mechanical engineer and inventor who designed the modern steam turbine in 1884. His invention revolutionised marine propulsion, and he was also the founder of C. A. Parsons and Company, developing and building Turbinia (1894), the first steam-powered steamship.

He worked as an engineer on dynamo and turbine design, and power generation, with great influence in the naval and electrical engineering fields. He also helped develop optical equipment for searchlights and telescopes. Parsons received the Franklin Medal in 1920, the Faraday Medal in 1923, and the Copley Medal in 1928 for his work, as well as the Engineering Heritage Awards posthumously in 1995.

His inventions and developments were used in many appliances during the early 20th century, including both naval and optical devices. He was elected to the Royal Society in 1898, and he served as the president of the British Association between 1916 and 1919. For his lasting contributions, Parsons was knighted in 1911, and he became a member of the Order of Merit in 1927. He additionally received the Bessemer Gold Medal in 1929.

Parsons died in 1931 on board the Duchess of Richmond due to neuritis. He was buried at the church of St Bartholomew in Kirkwhelpington, Northumberland.