Frederick Robert Upcott
Sir Frederick Robert Upcott (1847-1918)
1921 Obituary [1]
Sir FREDERICK ROBERT UPCOTT, K.C.V.O., C.S.I., who was born in 1847, died on the 15th October, 1918, in London.
Educated at Sherborne School and King’s College, London - of which he was later made an Honorary Fellow - he went to India as a “Stanley” engineer almost half a century ago. He was at first engaged on the survey and construction of the Indus Valley line, and later won official commendation for railway service in the Afghan War, as also for his part in the building of the Victoria Bridge over the Jhelum and in the construction of the Sind-Sagar railway.
In 1896, having been for 3 years consulting railway engineer in Madras, he became Director-General of Railways, and afterwards Secretary for Railways in the Public Works Department of India. He came home in 1901, on his appointment as Government Director of Indian Railways, but returned in 1905 to serve for 3 years as chairman of the Railway Board. It is recorded to his credit that in addition to his professional activities, he was largely instrumental in providing schools for the children of railwaymen.
After his retirement be became chairman of the East Indian and the Assam Bengal Railway Companies, and was a member of the Royal Commission on Railways appointed in 1913.
Sir Frederick Upcott was elected an Associate of The Institution on the 3rd December, 1872, and was transferred to the class of Members on the 11th November, 1879. He was a Member of the Council in 1901-1902 and from 1908-1911.