James Douglas Wallace
James Douglas Wallace (1858-1898)
1899 Obituary [1]
JAMES DOUGLAS WALLACE, born on the 1st July, 1858, entered the merchant service in 1874, and, after seven years’ experience at sea, determined to become an engineer.
To carry out this purpose he articled himself in 1882 to Mr. W. G. Izard for three years, during which period he was engaged partly in Mr. Izard’s office and partly on the works of the Ladysmith extension of the Natal Government Railways.
After the expiration of his pupilage he remained on those works as an Assistant Agent for Messrs. Perry and Co., the contractors, until the completion of the contract in July, 1887.
He was then employed in Argentina, in charge of the construction of the line from Chumbicha to Catamarca on the Argentine Central Northern Extensions, after which he took charge of the last section of the line from Dean Funes to Chilecito.
On leaving Argentina he was appointed by the contractors to superintend the construction of the Silati River Railway, Transvaal, but soon after his arrival in that country he resigned the appointment, and settled down on a farm he owned near Estcourt, Natal.
Mr. Wallace died at Estcourt on the 31st March, 1898, from the effects of a snake bite.
He was elected an Associate Member on the 2nd December, 1890.