William Henry Edward Napier
William Henry Edward Napier (1829-1894)
1894 Obituary [1]
WILLIAM HENRY EDWARD NAPIER was born in Quebec, Canada, on the 29th of September, 1829.
After serving a pupilage to W. Shanley, civil engineer, of Montreal, he was engaged for twelve months as an Assistant Engineer on the Union Canal of Pennsylvania.
He then served for three years in a similar capacity on the construction of the Grand Trunk Railway of Canada and was subsequently Resident Engineer for four years in charge of works on the Three Rivers and Athabaska branch of that line.
In 1864 Mr. Napier was sent out by Mr. (now Sir George) Bruce to East Prussia to take charge of the Rastenburg-Lyck Division of the East Prussian Southern Railway, at that time in course of construction.
After two years’ engagement on that work he acted for some months as Divisional Engineer on the Intercolonial Railway in Canada.
He returned to England in 1870 and from that time practically abandoned the active pursuit of the profession.
Mr. Napier was skilled in field-work and was very quick in making himself acquainted with the topography of a country. In disposition he was kind and sociable.
He died suddenly from apoplexy at 73, George Street, Edinburgh, on the 2nd of August, 1894.
He was elected a Member on the 3rd of March, 1868.