Edward Dobson

Edward Dobson
Edward Dobson in his 80s
Born	ca 1816/17 London
Died	19 September 1908 Christchurch
Nationality	New Zealand
Education	University College London
Spouse(s)	Mary Ann Lough
Children	Arthur Dudley Dobson
Engineering career
Discipline	railway, civil, surveying
Projects	Lyttelton Rail Tunnel
Significant design	Midland Line
Awards	Telford Medal

Edward Dobson (1816/17? – 19 September 1908) was Provincial Engineer for Canterbury Province, New Zealand from 1854 to 1868.

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. By the time he started his apprenticeship as an architect and surveyor in 1832, his father had died. He attended University College London 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.

From 1846 to 1849, he worked as railway engineer in Nottingham.

With two of those children, George (1840–1866) and Arthur Dudley (1841–1934), he 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.

Life with two young sons was challenging, and they were sent to their uncle, Reverend Charles Dobson, the vicar of Buckland in Tasmania. After three years, they returned to New Zealand and initially stayed with another uncle, the surveyor Alfred Dobson.

His wife followed on the Fatima and arrived in Lyttelton exactly one year later, on 27 December 1851. 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).