James Kemnal

Who was James Kemnal?

Sir James Herman Rosenthal Kemnal FRSE, born James Hermann Rosenthal, was an English engineer and industrialist.

Kemnal was born in London to a naturalised British father, who was a dealer in china and glass, and a Scottish mother. He was educated at the University of Cologne and undertook an apprenticeship at the engineering works of the Belgian Railways before joining the Anderston Foundry Co Ltd of Glasgow.

In about 1883 Kemnal joined the American boiler manufacturers Babcock & Wilcox and was soon running their London office. In 1891 a completely independent British branch of Babcock & Wilcox was founded and Kemnal became managing director, a post he held for the rest of his life. The company expanded rapidly and opened branches in France, Germany, Poland, Italy and Japan.

He was knighted in the 1920 New Year Honours for his services to munitions production during the First World War.