Record

Entry TypePerson
SurnameKay
ForenamesWilliam Porden
Epithetarchitect, surveyor, engineer and public servant
Dates1809-1897
Gender IdentityMale
HistoryAs the nephew of Sir John Franklin through his first wife Eleanor Anne (nee Porden) he was invited to Van Diemen's Land, where Franklin was then Lieutenant-Governor, arriving in Hobart on 20 May 1842; he was appointed to a number of different posts, including Director of Public Works and Colonial Architect from June 1842 to Dec 1858, and left Tasmania on 3 Feb 1860 to return to England for the remainder of his life; he had earlier been given leave to return to England from March 1853 to Nov 1854 owing to failing eyesight.
RelationshipsHe was one of the 8 children of Joseph Kay and his wife Sarah Henrietta (nee Porden): he followed his father's trade of architect, which was also that of his grandfather William Porden; he married Clara Ann Elwall on 3 Apr 1845 at St John's, New Town, Tasmania; they had one daughter Virginia Porden (born 19 Dec 1849).
Key EventsBorn 20 Apr 1809; died in Tunbridge Wells, Kent, 29 Apr 1897
SourceAustralian Dictionary of Biography online
Authorised Form of NameKay; William Porden (1809-1897); architect, surveyor, engineer and public servant

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