Richard Speight: Difference between revisions
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'''1903 Obituary <ref> [[Institution of Civil Engineers]] | '''1903 Obituary <ref> [[1903 Institution of Civil Engineers: Obituaries]] </ref> | ||
RICHARD SPEIGHT died at Perth, Western Australia, on the 19th September, 1901. | RICHARD SPEIGHT died at Perth, Western Australia, on the 19th September, 1901. | ||
He was born in England on the 2nd | He was born in England on the 2nd December, 1838, and when his father, who was in the service of | ||
December, 1838, and when his father, who was in the service of | the Midland Railway Company, died in 1851, that Company placed | ||
the | |||
the son in one of its offices. There he showed remarkable aptitude | the son in one of its offices. There he showed remarkable aptitude | ||
for railway work, and his capacity was recognised by his transfer | for railway work, and his capacity was recognised by his transfer | ||
from one position to another, until in 1860, after nine years' | from one position to another, until in 1860, after nine years' | ||
experience, he was taken into the office of the General Manager, | experience, he was taken into the office of the General Manager, | ||
[[James Allport|Mr. (subsequently Sir James) Allport]]. Under the eye of his chief, | [[James Joseph Allport|Mr. (subsequently Sir James) Allport]]. Under the eye of his chief, | ||
he rendered such good service to the Company that when Mr. | he rendered such good service to the Company that when Mr. | ||
Allport retired in 1877 and Mr. Noble, the Assistant General | Allport retired in 1877 and Mr. Noble, the Assistant General | ||
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{{DEFAULTSORT: Speight}} | {{DEFAULTSORT: Speight}} | ||
[[Category: Biography]] | [[Category: Biography]] | ||
[[Category: Biography - Railways]] | |||
[[Category: Births 1830-1839]] | |||
[[Category: Deaths 1900-1909]] | |||
[[Category: Institution of Civil Engineers]] | |||
Revision as of 03:48, 12 March 2015
Richard Speight (1838-1901)
1903 Obituary [1]
RICHARD SPEIGHT died at Perth, Western Australia, on the 19th September, 1901.
He was born in England on the 2nd December, 1838, and when his father, who was in the service of the Midland Railway Company, died in 1851, that Company placed the son in one of its offices. There he showed remarkable aptitude for railway work, and his capacity was recognised by his transfer from one position to another, until in 1860, after nine years' experience, he was taken into the office of the General Manager, Mr. (subsequently Sir James) Allport. Under the eye of his chief, he rendered such good service to the Company that when Mr. Allport retired in 1877 and Mr. Noble, the Assistant General Manager succeeded him, Mr. Speight was chosen without hesitation to fill the post vacated by Mr. Noble.
During the years that succeeded, his capacity as a railway administrator impressed itself so strongly on the British railway world that, when, towards the end of the year 1883, the Government of Victoria was on the look-out for a man to place at the head of its railway system, to introduce new methods of expert management, Mr. Speight was strongly recommended, and finally, after due inquiry, was offered the position of Chairman of the Victorian Railway Commissioners. He accepted the offer, and arrived in Victoria with his family in February, 1884, under a seven years' engagement. . . . . [more]