PIERCY, ROBERT (1825 - 1894), civil engineer

Born at Trefeglwys, Montgomeryshire, 25 January 1825, eldest son of Robert Piercy, and brother of Benjamin. He was educated at Chirk grammar school and trained in his father's office. From 1847 to 1855 he was engineer to the New British Iron Company which had collieries and works at Acrefair. He superintended the company's railways, collieries, and works, and constructed lines to Ruabon. He joined his brother, generally responsible for the office work, in the construction of the Montgomeryshire railways, residing first at Welshpool and later in London. He was, however, essentially a practical engineer and an expert surveyor and leveller with a reputation for skill in dealing with treacherous foundations for bridges. Between 1870 and 1879 he assisted his brother in Sardinia, and from 1879 to 1884 he was in India constructing the Assam Railway. There he discovered and opened out an enormous coal deposit and petroleum springs. Returning to England in 1887, he resided principally in London, but spent some time in Switzerland. He died 29 January 1894 at Celyn, Caergwrle, and was buried in the parish church of Chirk. His wife, whom he married about 1874, was a Miss Valleria, and they had one son and two daughters.

Author

• Evan David Jones, (1903 - 1987)

Sources

• Obituary: Robert Piercy, 1825-1894, Minutes of Proceedings of the Institution of Civil Engineers, cxviii, 452-3
• R. Williams, Montgomeryshire Worthies (1894), 242

Additional Links

• Wikidata: Q20746839

Published date: 1959

Article Copyright: http://rightsstatements.org/page/InC/1.0/