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Henry James (British Army officer)

January 01, 1970

Lieutenant General Sir Henry James Kt FRS MRIA FGS (1803 – 1877) was a Royal Engineers officer who served as the director-general of the Ordnance Survey, the British Government mapping agency, from 1854 to 1875. Sir Henry was described by the agency itself as "perhaps Ordnance Survey's most eccentric and egotistical Director General".[5] Sir Henry spent most of his life working for the Ordnance Survey and after becoming its head he introduced the new science of photography. He also would later claim to be the inventor of the process known as Photozincography or Zinco. Sir Henry also played a part in the resolving of the battle of the scales.

Sir

Henry James

Kt FRS MRIA FGS
Born(1803-06-08)8 June 1803
Rose in Vale, Mithian, Cornwall[1]
Truro, Cornwall[2]
Died14 June 1877(1877-06-14) (aged 74)
Southampton, England[3]
Allegiance United Kingdom
BranchBoard of Ordnance
British Army
Years of service1826–1877
RankBrevet Lieutenant General[2]
Service number604[3]
UnitCorps of Royal Engineers[2]
Commands heldDirector of Ordnance Survey, 1854–75[2]
Director of the Topographical and Statistical Department of the War Office, 1857–70
Awards
Spouse(s)
Anne Emma Watson
​
(m. 1845)​
RelationsHenry Spencer Palmer (nephew)

Career and early life edit

Born in 1803 at Rose in Vale, Mithian, Cornwall,[1] he was the fifth son of John James of Truro and Jane, daughter of John Hoskers. He attended a grammar school in Exeter, going on to study at the Royal Military Academy, Woolwich. Upon leaving he was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the Royal Engineers on 22 September 1826. He was promoted to captain in 1846 and then to Colonel in 1857.[6]

In 1827 he joined the Ordnance Survey and spent the majority of his career working for it, mainly in Ireland, though after a brief stint at the Admiralty, he eventually climbed through the ranks to take charge of the Edinburgh Office of the Ordnance Survey in 1850. His appointment to head of the Ordnance Survey was controversial, as his father-in-law, Major General Edward Watson, RE, aided him above two more obvious candidates.[6]

He had married Anne Emma Watson, daughter of Major General Edward Watson, RE, at St John's, Paddington, London, the Rev. Capel Molyneux, on 13 February 1845.[2][1]

Director-General edit

In 1854, at the age of 51, he became Superintendent of the Ordnance Survey, taking over from Lieutenant Colonel Lewis Hall. He was far more experienced than his predecessor having worked most of his life for the Survey.[7] Upon assuming the directorship, Sir Henry became involved in the battle of the scales. While the Ordnance Survey had surveyed a large part of the country, the scale at which the maps should be made and what was the most useful had yet to be decided. Sir Henry was a firm believer in the 1.2500 scale, and he used his position to effect this change despite the less than full approval of his superiors.[8]

James created a photography department to the Ordnance Survey in 1855 as a means of reducing the scale of maps. He claimed to have invented photozincography, a photographic method of producing printing plates. In fact, the process had been developed by two of his staff.[5] However James was the driving force behind using the process to create and publish a facsimile of the Domesday Book in the 1860s. Sir Henry has been called, by T. Owen, one of the greatest image builders the Ordnance Survey ever had, because Sir Henry made all the advances he and his department made freely available.[9] This was taken up by many foreign governments who were suitably impressed, the Queen of Spain making him a member of the Order of Isabella the Catholic in 1863; which he added to his knighthood of 1860 for services to science.

Sir Henry James continued using his photozincographic process to preserve historic manuscripts. He went on to publish a whole series of English historical documents, the process of which continued on after his death.[10] Similarly he ordered the Ordnance Survey of Jerusalem which was commissioned to help improve the water supply to the city. A copy of this map still survives at the National Archives.

  •  
    Photograph of the photography building and Henry James

Retirement edit

Due to failing health Sir Henry retired in 1875 at the age of 72, having been Director General of the Ordnance Survey for 21 years. His retirement was welcomed by his colleagues and soon after his departure a thinly veiled attack on his running of the survey was released in the Hampshire Independent in 1875.[11] Sir Henry James died on 14 June 1877, at the age of 75, at his home in Southampton. Despite his death, his mark remained on the Ordnance Survey—a plaque with his name and the date being attached to every building at the Ordnance Survey offices that was built during his tenure.[11]

Publications edit

  • James, Henry (1860). Photo-zincography (2nd ed.). Southampton: Forbes and Bennett.

References edit

  1. ^ a b c "Past Fellows - Record NA2879". The Royal Society.
  2. ^ a b c d e f WO 25/3913/77: Statement of the Services of Henry James of the Royal Engineers with a Record of such other Particulars as may be useful in case of his Death, The National Archives, Kew, p. 77
  3. ^ a b Connolly, Thomas William John (1898). Richard Fielding Edwards (ed.). Roll of Officers of the Corps of Royal Engineers from 1660 to 1898. Chatham: The Royal Engineers Institute. p. 24.
  4. ^ "St. James's Palace, March 28, 1860". The London Gazette. No. 22371. 30 March 1860. p. 1252.
  5. ^ a b A brief history of Ordnance Survey 5 October 2009 at the Wayback Machine, Ordnance Survey.
  6. ^ a b R. H. Vetch, rev. E. Baigent "James, Sir Henry (1803-1877) surveyor", Oxford Dictionary of National Biography
  7. ^ T. Owen & E. Pilbeam, Ordnance Survey: Map Makers to Britain since 1791, (Southampton: Ordnance Survey; London: H.M.S.O., 1992), p.53
  8. ^ T. Owen & E. Pilbeam, Ordnance Survey: Map Makers to Britain since 1791, (Southampton: Ordnance Survey; London: H.M.S.O., 1992), pp. 53–56
  9. ^ T. Owen & E. Pilbeam, Ordnance Survey: Map Makers to Britain since 1791, (Southampton: Ordnance Survey; London: H.M.S.O., 1992), pp. 53–61
  10. ^ G. Wakeman, Aspects of Victorian Lithography: Anastatic printing and photozincography, (Wymondham: Brewhouse Press, 1970), pp.56-58
  11. ^ a b T. Owen & E. Pilbeam, Ordnance Survey: Map Makers to Britain since 1791, (Southampton: Ordnance Survey; London: H.M.S.O., 1992), p.66

Sources edit

  • "James, Sir Henry (1803-1877) surveyor", Oxford Dictionary of National Biography
  • H. James, Photo-zincography, 2nd edition (with plate), (Southampton: Forbes and Bennett, 1860)
  • T. Owen & E. Pillbeam, Ordnance Survey: Map Makers to Britain 1791, (Southampton: Ordnance Survey; London: H.M.S.O., 1992)
  • G. Wakeman, Aspects of Victorian Lithography: anastatic printing and photozincography, (Wymondham: Brewhouse Press, 1970)
 
Wikisource has original works by or about:
Henry James

January 01, 1970
henry, james, british, army, officer, lieutenant, general, henry, james, mria, 1803, 1877, royal, engineers, officer, served, director, general, ordnance, survey, british, government, mapping, agency, from, 1854, 1875, henry, described, agency, itself, perhaps. Lieutenant General Sir Henry James Kt FRS MRIA FGS 1803 1877 was a Royal Engineers officer who served as the director general of the Ordnance Survey the British Government mapping agency from 1854 to 1875 Sir Henry was described by the agency itself as perhaps Ordnance Survey s most eccentric and egotistical Director General 5 Sir Henry spent most of his life working for the Ordnance Survey and after becoming its head he introduced the new science of photography He also would later claim to be the inventor of the process known as Photozincography or Zinco Sir Henry also played a part in the resolving of the battle of the scales SirHenry JamesKt FRS MRIA FGSBorn 1803 06 08 8 June 1803Rose in Vale Mithian Cornwall 1 Truro Cornwall 2 Died14 June 1877 1877 06 14 aged 74 Southampton England 3 Allegiance United KingdomBranchBoard of OrdnanceBritish ArmyYears of service1826 1877RankBrevet Lieutenant General 2 Service number604 3 UnitCorps of Royal Engineers 2 Commands heldDirector of Ordnance Survey 1854 75 2 Director of the Topographical and Statistical Department of the War Office 1857 70AwardsKnight Bachelor 1860 4 2 Spouse s Anne Emma Watson m 1845 wbr RelationsHenry Spencer Palmer nephew Contents 1 Career and early life 1 1 Director General 2 Retirement 3 Publications 4 References 4 1 SourcesCareer and early life editBorn in 1803 at Rose in Vale Mithian Cornwall 1 he was the fifth son of John James of Truro and Jane daughter of John Hoskers He attended a grammar school in Exeter going on to study at the Royal Military Academy Woolwich Upon leaving he was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the Royal Engineers on 22 September 1826 He was promoted to captain in 1846 and then to Colonel in 1857 6 In 1827 he joined the Ordnance Survey and spent the majority of his career working for it mainly in Ireland though after a brief stint at the Admiralty he eventually climbed through the ranks to take charge of the Edinburgh Office of the Ordnance Survey in 1850 His appointment to head of the Ordnance Survey was controversial as his father in law Major General Edward Watson RE aided him above two more obvious candidates 6 He had married Anne Emma Watson daughter of Major General Edward Watson RE at St John s Paddington London the Rev Capel Molyneux on 13 February 1845 2 1 Director General edit In 1854 at the age of 51 he became Superintendent of the Ordnance Survey taking over from Lieutenant Colonel Lewis Hall He was far more experienced than his predecessor having worked most of his life for the Survey 7 Upon assuming the directorship Sir Henry became involved in the battle of the scales While the Ordnance Survey had surveyed a large part of the country the scale at which the maps should be made and what was the most useful had yet to be decided Sir Henry was a firm believer in the 1 2500 scale and he used his position to effect this change despite the less than full approval of his superiors 8 James created a photography department to the Ordnance Survey in 1855 as a means of reducing the scale of maps He claimed to have invented photozincography a photographic method of producing printing plates In fact the process had been developed by two of his staff 5 However James was the driving force behind using the process to create and publish a facsimile of the Domesday Book in the 1860s Sir Henry has been called by T Owen one of the greatest image builders the Ordnance Survey ever had because Sir Henry made all the advances he and his department made freely available 9 This was taken up by many foreign governments who were suitably impressed the Queen of Spain making him a member of the Order of Isabella the Catholic in 1863 which he added to his knighthood of 1860 for services to science Sir Henry James continued using his photozincographic process to preserve historic manuscripts He went on to publish a whole series of English historical documents the process of which continued on after his death 10 Similarly he ordered the Ordnance Survey of Jerusalem which was commissioned to help improve the water supply to the city A copy of this map still survives at the National Archives nbsp Photograph of the photography building and Henry JamesRetirement editDue to failing health Sir Henry retired in 1875 at the age of 72 having been Director General of the Ordnance Survey for 21 years His retirement was welcomed by his colleagues and soon after his departure a thinly veiled attack on his running of the survey was released in the Hampshire Independent in 1875 11 Sir Henry James died on 14 June 1877 at the age of 75 at his home in Southampton Despite his death his mark remained on the Ordnance Survey a plaque with his name and the date being attached to every building at the Ordnance Survey offices that was built during his tenure 11 Publications editJames Henry 1860 Photo zincography 2nd ed Southampton Forbes and Bennett References edit a b c Past Fellows Record NA2879 The Royal Society a b c d e f WO 25 3913 77 Statement of the Services of Henry James of the Royal Engineers with a Record of such other Particulars as may be useful in case of his Death The National Archives Kew p 77 a b Connolly Thomas William John 1898 Richard Fielding Edwards ed Roll of Officers of the Corps of Royal Engineers from 1660 to 1898 Chatham The Royal Engineers Institute p 24 St James s Palace March 28 1860 The London Gazette No 22371 30 March 1860 p 1252 a b A brief history of Ordnance Survey Archived 5 October 2009 at the Wayback Machine Ordnance Survey a b R H Vetch rev E Baigent James Sir Henry 1803 1877 surveyor Oxford Dictionary of National Biography T Owen amp E Pilbeam Ordnance Survey Map Makers to Britain since 1791 Southampton Ordnance Survey London H M S O 1992 p 53 T Owen amp E Pilbeam Ordnance Survey Map Makers to Britain since 1791 Southampton Ordnance Survey London H M S O 1992 pp 53 56 T Owen amp E Pilbeam Ordnance Survey Map Makers to Britain since 1791 Southampton Ordnance Survey London H M S O 1992 pp 53 61 G Wakeman Aspects of Victorian Lithography Anastatic printing and photozincography Wymondham Brewhouse Press 1970 pp 56 58 a b T Owen amp E Pilbeam Ordnance Survey Map Makers to Britain since 1791 Southampton Ordnance Survey London H M S O 1992 p 66 Sources edit James Sir Henry 1803 1877 surveyor Oxford Dictionary of National Biography H James Photo zincography 2nd edition with plate Southampton Forbes and Bennett 1860 T Owen amp E Pillbeam Ordnance Survey Map Makers to Britain 1791 Southampton Ordnance Survey London H M S O 1992 G Wakeman Aspects of Victorian Lithography anastatic printing and photozincography Wymondham Brewhouse Press 1970 nbsp Wikisource has original works by or about Henry James Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Henry James British Army officer amp oldid 1190331586, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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