James Sivewright
Sir James Sivewright
1892 Commissioner of Public Works, Cape Colony
1917 Obituary [1]
SIR JAMES SIVEWRIGHT, K.C.M.G., was born in 1848 at Fochabers, N.B.
He studied at Aberdeen University and obtained his M.A. degree in 1866.
In 1868 he was selected as a probationer for the Indian telegraphs and was sent to the late Sir William Preece for practical experience. He later joined Preece's staff as a permanent official at Southampton when he was with the Electric and International Telegraph Company. On the transfer he became superintendent of a section in Preece's division.
Subsequently, in 1876, he was for a short time Acting Secretary to the Institution when this was the Society of Telegraph Engineers and Electricians, of which he was elected a Member in 1871.
In 1875 he read a paper on "Batteries and their Employment in Telegraphy " before the Society.
In 1877 he went to South Africa to report on the telegraphs, and remained there as general manager to the Government telegraphs.
In 1879 he wrote a second paper for the Institution on the "South African Telegraphs."
He gradually became interested in politics, being much associated with Cecil Rhodes, and in 1885 he gave up the telegraph service.
From 1890 to 1892 he was Commissioner of Public Works and a member of the Cape Ministry, and again from 1896 to 1898.
He retired from South Africa in 1899 and came back to this country, though still retaining many interests in South Africa. He purchased Tulliallan Castle, where he lived chiefly, but he occupied himself with various public companies and was chairman of the Imperial Cold Storage Company, operating in South Africa, and Chairman of the Aluminium Corporation, which had a large water-power station in North Wales and works at Hebburn. He was also a director of the Bath Electric Tramways Company and other companies.
He was joint author with the late Sir William Preece of the standard book on "Telegraphy." He was a genial Scotchman, and and excellent speaker at public meetings.