William Paterson (1814-1881)

William Paterson (c1814-1881)

1870s Superintended the construction of the first Tay Bridge

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1881 Obituary

The Scotch papers have just announced the death of a man of very considerable mark in connexion with railway engineering north of the Tweed; it is that of Mr. William Paterson, C. E., a name that was for many years identified with all the leading railways in the north of Scotland. Indeed, he was associated with railway engineering as far back as the year 1836, in which year he assisted in laying out a line in Ireland, while in the year 1838, he was engaged as an engineer on the Slamannan Railway, in the mining districts of Lanarkshire, a line which is still spoken of amongst old Scotch railway men with a peculiar degree of interest, partly from the fact that some of the early Scotch locomotives were made for working it.

In the year 1845, Mr. Paterson surveyed the projected line between Inverness and Perth, and when that scheme assumed practical form, he was engaged, along with Mr. Joseph Mitchell, from 1854 until 1865, in carrying out the works of what is now known as the Highland Railway.

Along with that gentleman, also, Mr. Paterson was surveyor of the Highland Roads and Bridges and Fishery Harbours in the North from 1839 to 1857; and prior to the passing of the present Roads and Bridges Act he was road surveyor for the county of Inverness.

His last work of any note was the survey, along with his brother, Mr. Murdo Paterson, of the Keith and Buckie Railway, the Bill for which was recently preferred by the Parliamentary Committee to that promoted by the Great North of Scotland Railway Company.

Mr. Paterson was likewise burgh surveyor for the town of Inverness till about two years ago, when he resigned that position. He was widely known over the North, and highly esteemed, and was regarded by all who knew him as an engineer of great ability, and as a most conscientious man in his profession.

Mr. Paterson died at his residence at Larkfield, Inverness, in the sixty-eighth year of his age.

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