Henry Beadon Rotton
Henry Beadon Rotton (1836-1871)
1872 Obituary [1]
MR. HENRY BEADON ROTTON, the youngest son of the late Mr. John Rotton, of Bath, was born in the year 1836, and was educated at Bruton Grammar School.
He commenced his professional career under Mr. (now Sir D.) Gooch at the works of the Great Western Railway Company at Swindon, where he acquired a good practical knowledge of his profession. On completing his time, he was appointed to the situation of District Locomotive Superintendent of the Great Western Railway at Oxford, and while so employed he gave every satisfaction.
In 1864, the Government of New Zealand requiring the services of an engineer and an assistant-engineer to erect a number of iron lighthouses on the coast of that colony, Mr. R. Aylmer, Assoc. Inst. C.E., received the former appointment, and Mr. Rotton was selected to accompany him as the assistant-engineer. To Mr. Rotton was entrusted the superintendence of the erection of the lighthouse on Maua Island, and of the lantern and light apparatus at Godley Head. These works were successfully carried out by him, the Maua Island one in particular requiring much energy and tact, but his ability was equal to the occasion, and the whole was finished and the lights exhibited in a comparatively short time.
He returned to England in 1866, having fulfilled his engagement to the complete satisfaction of the New Zealand Government.
He died in London on the 18th of June, 1871, at the age of 34.5 years, deeply regretted by all who knew his warm-hearted, generous, and honourable disposition.