William Pinker

William Albert Pinker OBE (9 May 1847 – 5 June 1932) was an English stonemason and museum technician at the British Museum, serving in the Department of Antiquities from 1873 and as foreman of masons from 1894.

William Albert Pinker
OBE
Born(1847-05-09)9 May 1847
Box, Wiltshire, England
Died3 June 1932(1932-06-03) (aged 85)
London
NationalityEnglish
OccupationStonemason, Museum Technician
Spouse(s)Jane Harris
ChildrenJennifer Pinker
Rose Pinker
Florence Pinker

Biography

Pinker was born on 9 May 1847, in the village of Box, Wiltshire, the 5th of 9 children born to James Pinker (1810–1878) and Mary Chandler (1814–1882).[1] He came from a long line of stonemasons and quarrymen, including his father, who worked in the Box Quarries mining Bath stone. From the age of around 6, Pinker joined his father and older brothers in the quarries, working as a "labourer".[2] In the mid-1860s Pinker left Box and traveled to London, where he found employment as a mason in Kensington. Shortly afterwards, he met Jane Harris. They married on 31 December 1876 in Southwark. They would go on to have three daughters: Jennifer "Jenny" (1878–1970), Florence (1881–1929) and Rose (1884–1976).

Pinker became employed at the British Museum on 18 November 1872, and would go on to work there for just under 60 years. From 1 January 1873 he worked for the Department of Antiquities, and was foreman of masons from 1894. He undertook many highly skilled tasks, not only for the Department of Antiquities but also for other areas of the British Museum.[3] He played a significant role in situating fragments of the Elgin Marbles, and also advised during the construction of the model of the Mausoleum of Halicarnassus. Alexander Stuart Murray commented that Pinker's work was "more appropriate to a sculptor's assistant than to a mason." He retired on 5 April 1932, due to failing health. Two days before his death, he was granted an OBE in the 1932 Birthday Honours by King George V. Pinker died on 3 June 1932, at the age of 85. His life was the subject of an obituary in The Times.

References
  1. "William Pinker Genealogy". Geni.com. Retrieved 27 November 2016.
  2. Source Citation Class: RG 9; Piece: 1281; Folio: 59; Page: 14; GSU roll: 542788 Description Enumeration District : 4d Source Information Ancestry.com. 1861 England Census [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2005. Original data: Census Returns of England and Wales, 1861. Kew, Surrey, England: The National Archives of the UK (TNA): Public Record Office (PRO), 1861. Data imaged from The National Archives, London, England. The National Archives gives no warranty as to the accuracy, completeness or fitness for the purpose of the information provided. Images may be used only for purposes of research, private study or education. Applications for any other use should be made to The National Archives, Kew, Richmond, Surrey TW9 4DU. Source Description This database is an index to individuals enumerated in the 1861 Census for England. The census contains detailed information on each individual who spent the night in each household including name, relationship to the head of the family, marital status, age at last birthday, gender, occupation, and birthplace. Additional information about the dwelling and property was collected. Each name in this index is linked to actual images of the 1861 England Census.
  3. "William Pinker Biography". Sculpture.gla.ac.uk. Retrieved 27 November 2016.

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