Background
Harper was born in London on 23 June 1871 to parents James Harper, a commercial traveler and Hannah, née Reah.
Harper was born in London on 23 June 1871 to parents James Harper, a commercial traveler and Hannah, née Reah.
Harper attended Dulwich College and studied engineering at the City and Guilds Technical College, Finsbury, then took up an apprenticeship at the Rennoldson Electrical Engineering Company, a Tynside engineering firm located in South Shields gaining experience in marine engineering.
In 1893 he began work at the Brush Electrical Engineering Company and in 1895 he supervised the installation of electric supply in Malta for that firm, staying on as chief engineer for the power authority. On return to England he supervised a number of tramway and town lighting systems In 1889 he was sent to Melbourne as assistant to F. West. Clements, to manage the Brush Electrical Engineering Company subsidiary Electric Light and Traction Company
Harper became electrical engineer to the Melbourne City Council in 1901 (replacing Arthur Arnot), where he was involved in the expansion of the generation and distribution system including introducing three-phase transmission and a new generator at Spencer Street Power Station Harper was correspondent to the London Institution of Electrical Engineers and American Institute of Electrical Engineers, and following an overseas tour in 1911, recognised the potential for Victorian Brown Coal, after seeing Germany"s use.
He recommended the establishment of a public utility on the lines of the Ontario Hydro Electricity and was appointed to the government brown coal advisory committee (chaired by Department of Mines director Hyman Herman). This let to him becoming the first chief engineer on the State Electricity Commission of Victoria retiring in 1936.