Robinson Souttar
Robinson Souttar (1848-1912) of the Calcutta Tramways
Born at Aberdeen
1873 Married at Dublin to Mary Hall Hardy
1911 Residing at Carfax, Letchworth: Robinson Souttar (age 62 born Aberdeen), Retired Civil Engineer. With his wife Mary Hall and one daughter.[1]
1912 Died. '...Mr. Souttar was the son of the late Mr. William Souttar, of Edenville, Aberdeen, and was born in October, 1848. In his chosen profession as Civil Engineer on the North of Scotland Railway, the Tunbridge Wells Waterworks, Cardiff, London, Dublin, and Liverpool, at which two latter places he directed the laying down of tramways; and in rha (afterwards) in the construction of 43 miles of tramways, Mr. Souttar revealed his great business capacity. After five years in India he returned to England in a position enabling him to retize from his profession— had his disposition and temperament permitted him. But it is to be noted with wonder and admiration, that retirement from business, in his case, meant tt.~ beginning of all-round, brilliant social and intellectual labour, that really constituted Mr. Souttar’s claim to honour and gratitude. Almost in middle life he took his degree of M.A, at Oxford, followed by that of D.C.L, in Civil Law. Whilst it would be practically impossible detail his manifold achievements, we may name some distinctive ones, which will, we think, constitute an almost unique example of noble and versatile service for the public good. He was M.P. for Dumfriesshire for five years, from 1895 to 1900....'[2]