The Cornish Institute of Engineers (CIE) was founded in 1913 by the then Principal of the Camborne School of Mines, J.J. Beringer. Its first President, Josiah Paul, was appointed on 1 March 1913. It is the only institute in Cornwall and maintains a continuous programme of lectures. The origins of the Institute go back to the Camborne Association of Engineers, a small but prestigious body existing in the early years of the 20th century and composed mainly of mechanical engineers. Since 2011, the CIE has been affiliated with the Institute of Materials, Minerals and Mining. History On 2 November 1912, a special meeting of the Camborne Association of Engineers was held at the Mining School, Camborne, which led to a decision to enlarge its scope. At a general meeting on 4 January 1913, the then Principal of the Camborne School of Mines, J.J. Berringer, led a discussion on the "Assaying of Tin in Mines". At this meeting sufficient support was achieved and the Cornish Institution of Mining, Mechanical and Metallurgical Engineers, as it was then known, was formed, and met under its first President, Josiah Paul on 1 March 1913. It was keen to cover the mining, mechanical and metallurgical, in fact all aspects of mining activity, the former three being proportionately represented on the governing body. Initially there were 130 Members including 30 Associates. The Institute at once assumed a role in monitoring the progress of mining activities in the County, with papers being delivered by persons of standing such as Josiah Paul, J.J. Berringer and William Thomas. A quote the late F.C. Cann, Manager of Geevor Mine in his Presidential address in 1926 may convey the importance with which the Institute was regarded when he says that "in general we may claim that our endeavours have materially furthered the great modern objectives of spreading the knowledge of mining engineering in all its branches, as well as bringing before the public the actual and potential value of the minerals in the county awaiting development. I make bold to say that our efforts have benefited and hastened the advancement of the mining industry in the county to a much larger extent than is generally supposed, or the Institute is given credit for." The early work done by the Council and the Secretaries was immense. Transactions were compiled and published. The outbreak of the Great War in 1914 brought many difficulties,