Robert Thomas Scaldwell
Robert Thomas Scaldwell (1844-1898)
1899 Obituary [1]
ROBERT THOMAS SCALDWELL, a Superintending Engineer in the Public Works Establishment of the Mysore Province, India, died at Scotts Hill, Ware, Hertfordshire, on the 21st September, 1898.
He was born at Calverton Manor, Stony Stratford, on the 15th December, 1844, and after being educated at Bedford, became at an early age a midshipinan on one of Green’s well-known Indian liners. On his arrival in one of those vessels at Madras in 1862, he gave up the merchant service and became a student in the Engineering College at Madras.
Mr. Scaldwell passed out of the Engineering College, Madras in 1864, with certificates qualifying for enlployment in the Upper Subordinate Establishment of the Indian Public Works Department.
He was placed on the Bengal Establishment and was posted to the Province of Coorg, which he left in 1866, having obtained an appointment in Mysore, where he continued to serve until he left on furlough for England, a few months before his death.
On the reversion of the Mysore Province to the native dynasty in 1881, Mr. Scaldwell was transferred to the local service as Assistant Engineer, first grade, and was rapidly promoted to Executive Engineer, third grade, in 1883, to second grade in 1885, to first grade in 1892, and to Superintending Engineer in 1896.
He left numerous mementos of untiring labour and practical skill, in the construction and repair of roads, buildings and irrigation works in many parts of Mysore. He rendered valuable service during the great famine of 1877-78, in connection with relief works on the Mysore State Railway. He superintended the erection of the Rajah's palace at Bangalore, and carried out with great success the construction of the Bangalore City waterworks, which was the chief work of his life.
Mr. Scaldwell was elected a Member of the Institution on the 1st December, 1896.