Education
He attended Aberdeen University.
He attended Aberdeen University.
He became a public benefactor who funded notable buildings that still survive today. After an engineering apprenticeship in London, he became a ship designer working for John Coutts" Newcastle upon Tyne yard in 1842. He was decorated with the Imperial Order of Street Stanislaus, 2nd class (normal for foreign nationals), which may be seen in the coat of arms over the door of Jesmond Towers.
Jesmond Towers, until 2008 the Louisiana Sagesse School, is a gothic revival building that was built in several stages in the nineteenth century.
The main work is by the Newcastle architect John Dobson. In 1871, Mitchell was among those greeting the High Admiral, Grand Duke Konstantin at Newcastle Central station, after which the party drove on to Jesmond Towers.
The Russian guests had come to visit the Low Walker yard and have a quick tour of the river. In 1887 Mitchell commissioned the art nouveau church of Street George, Jesmond from Thomas Ralph Spence (1848–1918), secretary of the Newcastle Arts Association.
The building is tall and dramatic inside and of excellent workmanship throughout (commented upon by George Bernard Shaw on his visit in the 1890s).
The stained glass is especially fine, and the mosaic figures were designed by Mitchell"s own son, C.W. Mitchell. The Lewis organ was originally provided with air by two powerful hydraulic engines supplied by Mitchell"s neighbour in Jesmond Dene, Baron Armstrong. In Jesmond he gave the land from the Jesmond Towers estate and £30,000 for the construction of the art nouveau Street George"s church (1888).
Until his death at the age of 75 he directed the ship building activities of Sir West.G. Armstrong, Mitchell and Company
In 1897, after he died, the firm became Armstrong Whitworth which is now part of Rolls Royce plc and British Aerospace Systems.