James Cook died in Cape Town, on June 22nd, 1942, in his 70th year.
He received his early technical training at the Glasgow and West of Scotland Technical College and at Finsbury College, London, in the meantime serving an apprenticeship with Messrs. A. and W. Smith of Glasgow and Mr. David Cook, engineer and manager of the City of London Electric Lighting Co.
In 1895 he went to Rhodesia to engage in prospecting and mining on his own account, but two years later he was appointed mechanical engineer to Bulawayo Town Council. From 1898 he was for about sixteen years engaged on various mines in Rhodesia, including Sabi Rhodesia Gold Mining Co., Ltd., Belingwe Development Co., Ltd., Mashonaland Agency, Ltd., Battlefields Rhodesia Gold Mining Co., Ltd., the Eldorado Banket and Bwana M’Kubwa copper mines, and in association with J.L. Popham he discovered the Rhodesian Chrome Ore Deposits at Selukwe.
In 1915 he returned to England to take up work with the Ministry of Munitions in the Inspection Department of Woolwich Arsenal, and at Leeds.
In 1922 he returned to Rhodesia to take over the management of mines which included the Victor and Peak mines in Southern Rhodesia.
Mr. Cook was elected a Member of the Institution in 1910. He was also a Member of the Institution of Electrical Engineers.
Vol. 52, Trans I.M.M. 1942-43, p. 393
