Sir William Robertson Copland MICE LLD (1838–1907) was a 19th-century British civil engineer, specialising in drainage and water supply.
Life
He was born in
Stirling in central Scotland in 1838, the son of John Copland a merchant tailor who was later Chairman of Glasgow Technical College.
He was educated at
Stirling High School then studied Engineering at
Glasgow University. He was then apprenticed to
David Smith from 1850 to 1856. He then joined the Edinburgh and Glasgow Railway Company before becoming Burgh engineer to
Paisley.
Copland was involved in the renovation of
Dunoon Pier
Dunoon Pier is a Victorian pier in the Scottish town of Dunoon, Argyll and Bute. Completed in its current form in 1898, and reaching out into the Firth of Clyde, its earliest parts date back to 1835. It is now a Category A listed structure (upgr ...
in the second half of the 19th century.
[DUNOON PIER WITH WAITING ROOMS AND PIER MASTER'S OFFICE, SIGNAL TOWER AND ADJOINING TEAROOM, TICKET LODGE, PIER RAILINGS]
– Historic Environment Scotland
In later life he was heavily involved in the Glasgow Technical College and its expansion.
He became Chairman of the Board of Governors in 1897.
He had premises with his firm Copland & Foulis at 146 West Regent Street. He was knighted by King
Edward VII
Edward VII (Albert Edward; 9 November 1841 – 6 May 1910) was King of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland and Emperor of India, from 22 January 1901 until his death in 1910.
The second child and eldest son of Queen Victoria an ...
in 1906 and received an honorary doctorate (LLD) from Glasgow University in 1907.
He died of a heart attack at his home, 20 Sandyford Place, in
Glasgow
Glasgow ( ; sco, Glesca or ; gd, Glaschu ) is the most populous city in Scotland and the fourth-most populous city in the United Kingdom, as well as being the 27th largest city by population in Europe. In 2020, it had an estimated popul ...
on 19 August 1907 and is buried in
Glasgow Necropolis, near the summit.
Family
He was married to Elizabeth Jane Donaldson (died 1908). They had one daughter and five sons.
Their eldest son,
John Pearson Copland, was also a civil engineer. For some time they practiced jointly as W R Copland & Sons.
[Engineering (journal): vol 85 p.301]
References
1838 births
1907 deaths
People from Stirling
Alumni of the University of Glasgow
British civil engineers
Burials at the Glasgow Necropolis
{{UK-engineer-stub