Captain William Francis Dawson military engineer
This article is part of ICE's Engineer biographies series.
DAWSON, William Francis, Captain (d 1829), military engineer, was born in Newmarket, the son of Francis Dawson.
A Royal Engineer, he arrived in Colombo, Sri Lanka, in 1819 as 'Second Captain' RE, and acted as private secretary to Sir Edward Barnes (1776-1832), the Lieutenant General.
Dawson was the engineer responsible for the construction of several of the military roads built in Ceylon in the 1820s and that over the Kadugannawa Pass presented such great difficulty that in 1832 a posthumous memorial was erected to his memory at the summit.
He died at Kandy on 28 March 1829 having contracted dysentery while surveying the Paumben and Mannaw Channels and was buried at St. Peters, Colombo.
Works:
- 1822. Road over Kadugannawa Pass, Kandy District, Sri Lanka
- 1822. Road from Kospetta-oya over the Galagedera Pass, Sri Lanka
Written by MIKE CHRIMES
This text is an extract from A Biographical Dictionary of Civil Engineers in Great Britain and Ireland, published by ICE in 2002. Beginning with what little is known of the lives of engineers such as John Trew who practised in the Tudor period, the background, training and achievements of engineers over the following 250 years are described by specialist authors, many of whom have spent a lifetime researching the history of civil engineering.
Featured articles and news
How can digital twins boost profitability within construction?
A brief description of a smart construction dashboard, collecting as-built data, as a s site changes forming an accurate digital twin.
Unlocking surplus public defence land and more to speed up the delivery of housing.
The Planning and Infrastructure bill oulined
With reactions from IHBC and others on its potential impacts.
Farnborough College Unveils its Half-house for Sustainable Construction Training.
Spring Statement 2025 with reactions from industry
Confirming previously announced funding, and welfare changes amid adjusted growth forecast.
Scottish Government responds to Grenfell report
As fund for unsafe cladding assessments is launched.
CLC and BSR process map for HRB approvals
One of the initial outputs of their weekly BSR meetings.
Architects Academy at an insulation manufacturing facility
Programme of technical engagement for aspiring designers.
Building Safety Levy technical consultation response
Details of the planned levy now due in 2026.
Great British Energy install solar on school and NHS sites
200 schools and 200 NHS sites to get solar systems, as first project of the newly formed government initiative.
600 million for 60,000 more skilled construction workers
Announced by Treasury ahead of the Spring Statement.
The restoration of the novelist’s birthplace in Eastwood.
Life Critical Fire Safety External Wall System LCFS EWS
Breaking down what is meant by this now often used term.
PAC report on the Remediation of Dangerous Cladding
Recommendations on workforce, transparency, support, insurance, funding, fraud and mismanagement.
New towns, expanded settlements and housing delivery
Modular inquiry asks if new towns and expanded settlements are an effective means of delivering housing.
Building Engineering Business Survey Q1 2025
Survey shows growth remains flat as skill shortages and volatile pricing persist.