William Jervois

From Freepedia

Sir William Francis Drummond Jervois (10 September 1821 – 17 August 1897), GCMG CD, m. Lucy Norsworthy in 1850, b.7 March 1832, d. 17 March 1894.

Jervois joined the army in 1839, and was educated and commissioned as a Royal Engineer (See combat engineering). After service in South Africa, he became an expert on land-based fortifications of cities against naval attack, and proposed several options for a ring of defences around London. In 1864-1865, he reviewed fortifications in Canada, submitting what became a politically controversial report that stated that the Great Lakes and Upper Canada were not defensible.

Later in his career, he became governor of several colonies—the Straits Settlements (Penang, Singapore and Malacca), South Australia, and then New Zealand.

The prominent street, Jervois Quay, in Wellington is named after him. This street used to be on the waterfront before the earthquake of 1855.

Preceded by: Andrew Clarke	Governor of the Straits Settlements 1875–1877	Succeeded by: Sir William Robinson
Preceded by: Sir Anthony Musgrave	Governor of South Australia 1877–1883	Succeeded by: Sir William Robinson
Preceded by: Lord Stanmore	Governor of New Zealand 1883–1889	Succeeded by: The Earl of Onslow

External links

• detailed biography
• Dictionary of New Zealand Biography
• Biography at the Dictionary of Canadian Biography Online