James Henry Greathead

James Henry Greathead (6 August 1844 - 21 October 1896) was an engineer renowned for his work on the London Underground railway. Greathead was born in Grahamstown, South Africa; of English descent, Greathead's grandfather had emigrated to South Africa in 1820. He was educated at St Andrew's College, Grahamstown, and the Diocesan College private school in Cape Town, and completed his education in England between 1859 and 1863 at the Westbourne Col... more

James Henry Greathead (6 August 1844 - 21 October 1896) was an engineer renowned for his work on the London Underground railway. Greathead was born in Grahamstown, South Africa; of English descent, Greathead's grandfather had emigrated to South Africa in 1820. He was educated at St Andrew's College, Grahamstown, and the Diocesan College private school in Cape Town, and completed his education in England between 1859 and 1863 at the Westbourne Collegiate School, Westbourne Grove. He returned briefly to South Africa before finally moving to London in 1864 to serve a 3 year pupillage under the civil engineer Peter W. Barlow. He spent some time (around 1867) as assistant engineer on the Midland Railway between Bedford and London (working with Barlow's brother, William Henry Barlow). Soon after, in 1869, he rejoined Barlow and they began work on designs for the Tower Subway, only the second tunnel to be driven under the river Thames in central London. Barlow was the engineer for the tunnel... less