William Light
Colonel William Light (* April 27, 1786 in Kuala Kedah, † October 6, 1839 in Adelaide ) was a British officer, explorer, painter and the first general - surveyor of South Australia. He determined the location and the layout of the streets of the capital Adelaide.
Life and work
Light was in Kuala Kedah Siamese (now Malaysia) was born as the son of Francis Light, the founder of the British colony of Penang, and Martina Rozells. By the age of six, he grew up in Penang, after which he was sent for further education after Theberton in England.
At the age of 13 years Light undertook voluntarily for two years in the Royal Navy. He then traveled through Europe and India before he joined the British Army in 1808. He took from 1809 to 1814 in Spain the Napoleonic Wars in the Iberian peninsula in part. He was promoted to lieutenant in 1811 and became friends during the siege of Badajoz with General Graham to. After the war he served as a Captain use at various locations in England. Light retired in 1821 out of the military service and married on May 29, 1821 E. Perois from Londonderry, where he was stationed.
After two years of Light returned to Spain to fight on the side of the revolutionary forces against the French invasion. He received the rank of lieutenant colonel, but was seriously injured in the defense of A Coruña. After his return to England he married on October 16, 1824, the twenty year old Mary Bennet, daughter of the Duke of Richmond. To the whereabouts of his first wife, there is no information, probably she died. The next six years both traveled through Europe, especially France and Italy. On the purchased of Light Yacht Gulnare they sailed across the Mediterranean. From this period are some of the best paintings and drawings by the British.
Between 1830 and 1835 helped Light Muhammad Ali Pasha, the founder of modern Egypt build up its own navy. Here he met John Hindmarsh, with which he sailed together for the Pasha troops and equipment to Syria. Light was divorced in 1832 from his wife. After Hindmarsh was appointed governor of South Australia, he beat Light as Surveyor - General (Chief Surveyor ) ago. Light left the United Kingdom on May 1, 1836 Rapid and reached Australia on 20 August 1836.
Light chose for the capital, Adelaide, from a location about 10 km inland on the River Torrens and designed the layout of the city. He planned city with wide streets in a grid pattern and spacious parks. The main streets running from east to west, to avoid the sand storms from the north. By the River and the nearby Adelaide Hills sufficient fresh water supply should be ensured. For these reasons, Light other proposals of the governor and the British Crown, as the Kangaroo Island, Port Lincoln and Holdfast Bay had declined.
In further explorations into the interior Light explored the Barossa Valley. Shortly thereafter he gave in 1838 his position as Surveyor - General, since he refused imprecise measurement methods in the exploration, use, and founded his own company. In case of fire in the Land and Survey Office in January 1839, many were destroyed by Lights diaries, papers and drawings.
Light spoke several languages and was a painter. Many of his drawings were published in 1823 and 1828 in London. Some of his works are exhibited in the Art Gallery of South Australia.
Light died on October 6, 1839 from tuberculosis. He was buried at the Light Square in Adelaide. A first memorial was created in 1843, but had to be replaced in 1905.