Alexander Doull
Alexander Doull (1796-1878) civil engineer of Wick
1796 Born in Wick the son of Alexander Doull and his wife Anne Cormack
1843 Married in Wick to Helen Bain
1851 Living at Morden Terrace, Greenwich: Alexander Doull (age 54 born Scotland), Civil Engineer and Land Surveyor - (?) and Chelsea. With his wife Helen Doull (age 42 born Scotland) and their three children; Alexander Doull (age 15 born Ireland), Engineering Pupil; James Doull (age 3 born St. Pancras); and Isabella Doull (age 5 Months born West Greenwich). Also his nephew William Calder (age 23 born Scotland), Civil Engineer. Two servants.[1]
1878. Died.
1878 Obituary[2]
We regret to record this week the death, on Thursday last, of an aged and valued contributor to our columns for the last twelve years. Mr Alexander Doull, we understand, was born in the parish of Halkirk, and served his time with the Royal Engineers. In this department of His Majesty’s service he took part in the Survey of Ireland, and after honourable career in the army, he left it and was engaged in engineering works in America, Russia, and other foreign countries.
As an educated gentleman he took deep interest in whatever concerned the progress of his profession, and, as a matter of study was conversant with the surveying of lines of railway, the principles of breakwater building, and the construction of bridges. During the period of the railway extension to Caithness he was decidedly opposed to the railway route in the county now in use, which strikes through many of the waste places of Caithness, and he preferred using the natural valleys of the district, so to save engineering expenses and open those portions of the country having the largest population. While his plan, which was that of the railway going through the county partly by the Strath of Watten, was never carried out, he was always eloquent on the defects of the existing line.
Mr Doull planned and superintended the erection of the Service Bridge some few years ago, which has answered the purpose for which it was designed, and proved great public convenience....