William Mills (inventor of the Mills bomb)

Sir William Mills
Sir William Mills
Born	24 April 1856 Wear Street, Southwick, Sunderland, England
Died	1932 Weston-super-Mare, Somerset, England
Awards	A Knighthood and a Gold Medal from the Mercantile Marine Service's Association.
Relations	Wife (died 1930). No children.

William Mills (24 April 1856 - 1932) of Sunderland was an English engineer, who invented the Mills bomb which was developed and manufactured at his factory in Birmingham, England.

The Mills bomb was the hand grenade most widely used by British and Imperial forces during the First World War. He was knighted in 1922.

William Mills was born on 26 April 1856 in Wear Street, Southwick, Sunderland. He was the son of David Mills, a shipbuilder, and his wife Sarah Ann Kirkaldy.

It was recorded by the Sunderland historian James Watson Corder that David Mills had an interest in the Sunderland-based Mills shipbuilding firm, however it was actually run by his brothers George and John.

By 1871, William Mills and his family had moved to 22 Camden Street, Sunderland. David Mills was recorded as a joiner in the Census taken that year. William was a butcher, however he soon switched careers and began a seven-year apprenticeship with George Clarke, the famous Marine Engineers of Sunderland.

After completing his apprenticeship, Mills spent seven years at sea, obtaining a first class Certificate as a Marine Engineer in 1884.

It was during his time at sea that Mills witnessed great loss of life caused by the unsafe engaging and disengaging methods used on ship lifeboats. The experience prompted him to invent a simple, safe and efficient method, which was first exhibited at the Liverpool Shipowners' Exhibition in 1886. Mills was awarded a Gold Medal by the Mercantile Marine Service's Association for his efforts, as well as an Exhibition Gold Medal. The Board of Trade quickly approved his design and it came into worldwide use in both naval and merchant vessels.

...
Wikipedia