DANBY WM
A PIONEER ARCHITECT.
All Rights of Reproduction are Strictly Reserved.)
275
One of the titles, abolished in favour of concentrating the executive posts in the hands of a Director of Public Works, was that of Surveyor General in 1843, was abolished in 1891, when Mr. F. A. Cooper became the first D. P. W. The last Surveyor General, appointed in 1889 being Mr. Samuel Brown.
One of the men closely associated with Public Works Department surveying and architecture, and later in private practice was Mr. William Danby, father of Mr. J. D. Danby. He was in many respects a pioneer, and his death was deeply regretted.
The Hongkong Telegraph of February 12, 1908, states.* "It is with no little regret that we have to announce the death, which took place in the Government Civil Hospital at two o'clock this afternoon, of Mr. Wm. Danby one of Hongkong's leading architects."
Mr. Danby had met with a fall, and this led to his admission to hospital. He was an architect and civil engineer by profession, and was one of the oldest and most popular residents in the Colony. He was about sixty-five years of age at the time of his death, and had been in Hongkong since 1873.
His funeral took place in the Colonial Cemetery the following morning. At the Monument a large number of the leading residents including every section of the community to the number of between 300 and 400, awaited the arrival of the cortege, and over a hundred beautiful wreaths were sent. The funeral service at the graveside was read by the Bishop of Victoria, assisted by the Rev. Mr. Johnson and Mr. France. H. The Governor was represented at the Funeral by his A. D. C., Capt. Fleming.
According to "Who's Who in the Far East" Mr. Danby was educated at Leeds Grammar School and King's College London. He was articled as a civil engineer to the Municipal Engineer at Leeds, being afterwards appointed assistant and, subsequently Deputy Borough Engineer in 1866. He was Chief Resident Engineer under the late Sir Thomas Hawksley F.R.S., Past President of the Institute of Civil Engineers and from 1866 to 1873 was in charge of the large Washburn extension of the Leeds waterworks.
In December 1873, Mr. Danby was appointed to the Surveyor General's office in this Colony and on arrival here took charge of the detailed surveys and borings for the Tytam waterworks and other public works which to-day stand as memorials to his ability. In February 1879, he resigned the Government service and commenced private practice, being chiefly concerned in the erection of sugar refineries and other works connected with the local dockyards.
He was elected a Lieutenant in the Hongkong Volunteer Corps in May, 1878, and was appointed an unofficial Justice of the Peace in January 1892, in recognition of his general public service.