Matthew Digby Wyatt
Matthew Digby Wyatt ( born July 28, 1820 Rowde at Devizes, United Kingdom, † May 21, 1877 at Cowbridge ) was a British architect and art historian.
Wyatt was born as the youngest son of the lawyer and police magistrates Matthew Wyatt. After leaving school he worked in the architectural office of his elder brother Thomas Henry Wyatt. At the age of 16 years, the Architectural Society awarded him out for an essay with a medal. In 1838 he entered the Royal Academy Schools, but went before the conclusion in the years 1844-1846 on the Grand Tour. During his journey, he produced more than 1,000 drawings, which he published in a series of books from 1848. By held by Wyatt lecture on mosaics at the Royal Academy of Arts Henry Cole became aware of him, who took him in 1849 to the Industrial Exhibition in Paris. Wyatt's detailed report on the exhibition made of many hand for recognition, for which he was appointed in 1851 to the Secretary of the Great Exhibition. Among other things he was responsible for the execution of the work on the Crystal Palace. The collaboration with Owen Jones a close friendship was born. For a report on the Crystal Palace him in 1851 the Telford Medal, the highest award of the Institution of Civil Engineers awarded.
The following year, in 1852, Wyatt was commissioned to build the decorative iron constructions of the London Paddington Station, where he again worked with Owen Jones and with Isambard Kingdom Brunel. Also in collaboration with Brunel, he designed the Bristol Temple Meads train station.
1855 Wyatt surveyor and architect of the East India Company, for which he built numerous buildings in the UK and India. After its decline through the Indian rebellion of 1857 Wyatt served in the newly formed government in the same function. So he designed together with George Gilbert Scott, the main building of the India Office in Whitehall, whose courtyard is considered Wyatt's masterpiece.
From 1855 to 1859 was Wyatt Honorary Secretary of the Royal Institute of British Architects, which honored him in 1866 with the Royal Gold Medal. The knighthood was bestowed on him in 1869.
Worn down by his years, he moved to Dimlands Castle at Cowbridge, an estate which belonged to his wife's family back. However, he never recovered, so that he died on 21 May 1877 aged 56 years. His tomb in the town of Usk cemetery was designed by his older brother Thomas Henry.