Edward Dobson

Edward Dobson was born in London, probably in 1816 or 1817. His parents were John Dobson, a merchant, and Elizabeth Barker (1787–1875). Collet Dobson Collet (1812–1898) was his brother, Clara Collet (1860–1948) was his niece, and Sophia Dobson Collet (1822–1894) his sister. Collet Barker was an uncle, an elder brother of his mother. By the time he started his apprenticeship as an architect and surveyor in 1832, his father had died. He made a sketching tour of the European Continent, his drawings from which were exhibited in the architecture section of the Royal Academy. While practicing as an architect and surveyor, he attended University College London to study engineering, and by 1843 he had graduated with certificates of honour in architecture and civil engineering. Edward Dobson married Mary Ann Lough (1821–1913) on 7 May 1839 at Shoreditch, London, and they were to have ten children. ==Emigration to New Zealand==

, one of which belonged to Dobson (pencil sketch, 1865) With two of his children, George (1840–1866) and Arthur Dudley (1841–1934), Dobson emigrated to Canterbury on the Cressy, one of the First Four Ships. The Cressy arrived in Lyttelton on 27 December 1850. Dobson was one of the original purchasers of land from the Canterbury Association. She had the other children with her: Mary Ann (1844–1913), Caroline (1845–1932), Edward Henry (1847–1934) and Maria Eliza (b. 1848). The remaining children were born in New Zealand: Robert (1852–1893), Emily Frances (1857–1943), Herbert Alex (1860–1948) and Collet Barker (1861–1926). ==Professional life==

;New Zealand In New Zealand, he was responsible for designing and overseeing the construction of many important public works, having been appointed provincial engineer in 1854. This was New Zealand's first public railway. A telegraph line was built along the rail corridor between Lyttelton and Christchurch, Edward Dobson's most important project was the superintendency of the Lyttelton Rail Tunnel, an engineering feat that is recognised with a Category I heritage protection by Heritage New Zealand. His son Arthur prepared many of the sectional drawings. Soon after, the discovery of gold triggered the West Coast gold rush. Edward Dobson was commissioned to examine every possible pass to the West Coast from the watersheds of the Waimakariri, Taramakau and Hurunui Rivers. After finishing his examination, he declared that "Arthur's pass" was by far the most suitable to get to the gold fields. He helped establish the Engineering School of the Canterbury College, which became the University of Canterbury, and lectured until 1892. Dobson published several books on engineering. ==Family and death==

Life improved when Edward Dobson was appointed Provincial Engineer. His daughter Mary married Sir Julius von Haast in 1863. Associate and Member of the Institute of Civil Engineers. Arrived in Canterbury 1850. First Provincial Engineer, 1854, and Engineer to the Moorhouse Tunnel. 'His life's desire was that his labours might be of benefit to his fellow Colonists'. ==Publications==

• An Historical, Statistical, and Scientific Account of the Railways of Belgium from 1834 to 1842 (London, John Weale, 1843) • Rudiments of the Art of Building (London, John Weale, 1849) • A Rudimentary Treatise on Masonry and Stonecutting (London, John Weale, 1849) • A Rudimentary Treatise on Foundations and Concrete Works (London, John Weale, 1850) • A Rudimentary Treatise on the Manufacture of Bricks and Tiles (London, John Weale, 1850) • Pioneer Engineering: A Treatise on the Engineering Operations Connected with the Settlement of Waste Lands in New Countries (London, Crosby Lockwood and Co., 1877) ==References==