William Laxton (1802-1854), surveyor
William Laxton (1802–1854) was a British surveyor and author, one of the authors of the 19th century Builder's Price Book.
1802 March 30th. Born at London the son of William Robert Laxton, surveyor, and his wife Phœbe
Educated at Christ's Hospital
Brought up as a surveyor, he evinced a great love for his profession, and made himself master of every department. He surveyed and laid down several lines of railway, and was connected with the Hull and Selby, London and Richmond, Surrey Grand Junction, Hull, Lincoln, and Nottingham, Gravesend and Brighton, and Lynn, Wisbech, and Ely railways. Hydraulic engineering was his favourite pursuit, but a work on this subject, which he had designed and for which he had prepared extensive materials, he did not live to write.
He constructed water works at Falmouth and Stonehouse, in which he introduced many improvements, and with Robert Stephenson was joint engineer of the Watford Water Company for supplying London with water from the chalk formation.