Walsh Wrightson
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Walsh Wrightson CMG (28 October 1852 – 3 September 1935) was a British engineer who served his career in Ceylon and Trinidad and Tobago in the late 19th and early 20th century.
Early life and education
[edit]Wrightson was born on 28 October 1852, son of William Wrightson of Yorkshire. He was educated at Leeds Grammar School.[1]
Career
[edit]Wrightson joined the Ceylon civil service in 1875 as an engineer, and carried out many public works including the restoration of ancient Sinhalese irrigation works and the Kala Wewa reservoir, for which he was promoted by Governor Sir Arthur Hamilton-Gordon.[1][2][3]
In 1895, he went to Trinidad and Tobago to take up the appointment of Director of Works of Trinidad and Tobago, and completed many infrastructure projects including roads, bridges, a rail tunnel and a sewer system. He was a member of the Executive and Legislative Councils of Trinidad and Tobago from 1895 until his retirement in 1907.[1][3][4]
In 1903, he became embroiled in the Water Riots which occurred in Port of Spain which was a protest against a new ordinance which required the installation of water meters in homes and increased water rates, which Wrightson drafted and promoted.[3][5][4]
Personal life and death
[edit]Wrightson married Helen Maud Montague Armitage in 1892. After he retired in 1907, he served as the chairman of the Reigate Board of Guardians (1910–1919) and as a member of Surrey County Council (1912–1919).[3] Wrightson died in Mandeville, Jamaica, where he had a second home, on 3 September 1935, aged 82.[1][3]
Honours
[edit]Wrightson was appointed Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George (CMG) in the 1900 Birthday Honours.[6] Wrightson Road, Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago is named after him.[4][7]
References
[edit]- ^ a b c d Various (1848). Who Was Who Vol 3 1929-1940. Internet Archive. Adam & Charles Black. p. 1493.
- ^ History of the Public Works Department, Ceylon, 1796 to 1913. H.R. Cottle. 1921.
- ^ a b c d e "Mr Walsh Wrightson". The Times. 24 September 1935. p. 10.
- ^ a b c "A bit of history about wrightston road". TRINIDAD & TOBAGO ASSOCIATION OF OTTAWA. Retrieved 2024-12-05.
- ^ Laurence, K. O. (1969). ""The Trinidad Water Riot of 1903: Reflections of an Eyewitness"". Caribbean Quarterly. 15 (4): 5–22. doi:10.1080/00086495.1969.11829026. ISSN 0008-6495. JSTOR 40653092.
- ^ "Page 3328 | Supplement 27195, 22 May 1900 | London Gazette | The Gazette". www.thegazette.co.uk. Retrieved 2024-12-05.
- ^ "Wrightson Road, Indian Movies and Ranjit Kumar". Trinidad and Tobago Guardian. Retrieved 5 December 2024.