Individual Details
(3 May 1804 - 19 Jan 1871)
3rd son. Educated at a private school at Sunbury, at Eton, under a private tutor (Rev. C. Drury); and at R.M.C., Woolwich. After padding for the Royal Engineers in 1823, he worked at the Ordinance Survey, and in 1827 went to Canada, where he was employed with a company of sappers in constructing the Rideau Canal until 1831. He received the Telford Medal from the Institute of Civil Engineers and was appointed an associate of the Institute in connection with experiments carried out on the strengths of American timber. Returning to England in 1831, he was for a time, quartered at Woolwich, and in 1833 became instructor of engineer cadets at Chatham. He was a member of the corporation boundary commission in 1835, and took charge of the Works at Woolwich Dockyard in 1837. Subsequently employed under the admiralty, both at Woolwich and Portsmouth, he visited Bermuda in 1842, and was also a member of the govt. commission on the health of towns. Knighted, 1846. Appointed Lt. Gov. of Van Dieman's Land, 1846, and remained there until 1854, opening the first session of the new representative assembly in 1852. After consolidating the system of public works and education in Van Dieman's Land, he was apptd. Gov of New South Wales in 1854, with the title of Gov. Gen. of Australia. He remained in that position until 1861, being responsible for the introduction of constitutional govt. into N.S.W. Civil K.C.B., 1856. In 1861, he was apptd. Gov of Madras, and as acting Gov. Gen. on the death of Lord Elgin in 1863 carried out the Sitana Expedn. Retiring from India in 1866, he returned to England, and in 1868 was apptd. chmn. of a royal commission to enquire into the best means of preventing the pollution of rivers, continuing in that capacity until his death. During his time in Sidney, he had published essays on social and educational topics. Sir William and Lady Denison lived latterly at The Observatory, East Sheen.
Events
| Birth | 3 May 1804 | London, England | | | |
| Marriage | 29 Nov 1838 | Caroline Lucy Hornby | | | |
| Death | 19 Jan 1871 | East Sheen, Surrey, England | | | |
Families