Drewry Gifford Ottley
Drewry Gifford Ottley (1845-1896)
1897 Obituary [1]
DREWRY GIFFORD OTTLEY, eldest son of Mr. Drewry Ottley, M.D., was born at Bedford Place, London, on the 20th October, 1845.
His early education was obtained at Pau, where his father was well known as a physician. He was next sent to a private school at Bath, and subsequently to King’s College, London.
In May, 1863, he entered the works of the Midland Railway Company at Derby, where he served three years and afterwards remained twelve months as an assistant.
Then, anxious to obtain further experience, he decided to go up for the Indian Public Works Department examination under the Stanley regulations. He passed second and was appointed an assistant engineer in that service in October, 1868.
The first work of importance with which Mr. Ottley was connected was the survey of the Indus Valley State Railway, on which he was engaged from 1870.
When the late Mr. Middleton Rayne became Engineer-in-Chief of that line five years later, he was placed in charge of the large workshops at Adamwahan and of the locomotive and wagon stock. There he remained until December, 1876, when he was transferred to the Punjab Northern State Railway as Executive Engineer, which post he held until 1879, when he retired from the Indian Government service.
Mr. Ottley then practised privately in England and in Virginia, but does not seem to have met with great success. In October, 1884, he was appointed - as the result of examination - surveyor of County Leitrim, which post he held for nearly twelve years.
In addition to his ordinary duties as a county surveyor, he acted as an arbitrator for the Board of Trade in connection with the Cavan, Leitrim and Roscommon Light Railways and Tramways.
Mr. Ottley died at his residence, Cartown House, Carrick-on-Shannon, on the 27th September, 1896, after a few hours’ illness.
His ability as an engineer was considerable, while his unvarying kindness and consideration to all who worked under him, and his pleasant manner, made him universally popular.
He was elected an Associate on the 12th January, 1875, and was transferred to the class of Member on the 10th November, 1885.