Terence Woulfe Flanagan
Terence Woulfe Flanagan (1819-1859)
1861 Obituary [1]
MR. TERENCE WOULFE FLANAGAN was born at St. Catherine’s Park, Leixlip, Ireland, on the 19th of February, 1819.
His early education was received principally at Paris and at Brussels, and in the year 1836, he entered the University of Dublin, where he distinguished himself as a linguist and a mathematician, generally obtaining the first place among his competitors, several of whom are now Fellows of the University.
At the close of the year 1837, he became an articled pupil of Mr. Charles Vignoles, (M. Inst. C.E.,) with whom he served five years, during which time he had extensive experience in exploring the country for new railways, and in general Parliamentary work.
In 1843, he was appointed Resident Engineer of the Blackburn and Preston Railway, under Mr. Collister, and upon the retirement of Mr. Vignoles, he became the Engineer-in-Chief of the Blackburn Railway Company, and superintended the construction of the lines from Blackburn to Bolton and Clitheroe, which he completed in 1850.
He subsequently proceeded to Antwerp, and was engaged about two years, in the construction of the railway between Antwerp and Rotterdam. On the completion of that line, he went to Portugal, where he was occupied, for about two years, on the railway between Lisbon and Santarem.
On his return to England in 1857, he took up his residence in London, and was intrusted with the prosecution, before the Parliamentary Committees, of several projected public works, but owing to the monetary crisis at that period, most of them were withdrawn ; the only one which he successfully carried, was the Bill for the Kingstown, (Dublin,) Waterworks.
In 1859, he was appointed Engineer of the projected Southampton and Fareham Railway, and it was whilst engaged upon the out-door operations connected with this work, that exposure to wet, and subsequent neglect of himself induced a severe illness, from which he never rallied.
He died on the 13th of December, 1859, in the forty-first year of his age ; having been, for seventeen years, connected with the Institution, which he joined as a Member in the year 1843.
Mr. Flanagan was deservedly respected, by the promoters of the undertakings in which he was engaged, and his loss was severely felt, by a large circle of professional and other friends, who appreciated his possession of those qualities which insure affect,ion and esteem.