Charles Edmund Webber facts for kids

Charles Edmund Webber (born September 5, 1838 – died September 23, 1904) was a British soldier, engineer, and writer. He was known for his work in military engineering and for helping to set up the telegraph system in the United Kingdom.

Charles Webber: Soldier and Engineer

Early Life

Charles Webber was born in Dublin, Ireland. He was the third son of Rev. Thomas Webber and Frances Kelly. His mother's father was Thomas Kelly, a famous preacher and hymn writer. Charles went to private schools before starting his military training.

Joining the Army

In 1853, Charles Webber joined the Royal Military Academy, Woolwich. This was a special school for future army officers. By 1855, he became a lieutenant in the Corps of Royal Engineers. This group of soldiers specializes in building and engineering tasks.

Serving in India

From 1857 to 1860, Webber served in India during a major uprising. He was part of the 21st company of Royal Engineers. He fought in battles at the Betwa River and Jhansi. He was praised twice for his actions in official reports.

He stayed in the field until April 1859. After that, he worked in public works departments in Gwalior and Allahabad. He returned to England in May 1860.

Teaching and Observing

Back in England, Webber was stationed in Brighton. In 1861, he married Alice Augusta Gertrude Hanbury Tracy. She was the fourth daughter of Thomas Hanbury-Tracy, 2nd Baron Sudeley.

The same year, he went back to the Military Academy at Woolwich. He became an instructor, teaching military drawing and surveying. In 1862, he was promoted to captain.

In 1866, during a war in Europe called the Austro-Prussian War, Webber joined the Prussian army. His job was to report on their engineering work and how they used military telegraphs. He also went on other special missions abroad. From 1867 to 1869, he was on duty at the Curragh Camp in Ireland.

Building Telegraphs for the Post Office

In 1869, Webber was in charge of the 22nd company of Royal Engineers in Chatham. He and his soldiers were asked to help the Post Office. Their task was to build and organize the new telegraph service across the country.

In 1871, another company, the 34th, joined Webber's command. They were stationed in Inverness. At that time, six officers and 153 soldiers from the Royal Engineers worked for the Post Office. They laid over 1,000 miles of telegraph lines.

In 1872, Webber was promoted to major. He trained more than 300 soldiers in telegraphy work. Their important work for the Post Office was finished in 1879.

Adventures Abroad

After his work with the Post Office, Webber was sent to South Africa in 1879. This was when the first Boer War began. In January 1882, he was promoted again to lieutenant colonel.

In August 1882, he was appointed as an assistant-adjutant and quartermaster general. This was for the Egyptian Expedition. His important contributions were recognized in November of that year. Webber was made a Companion of the Order of the Bath. This is a very important award. He also received the Order of the Medjidieh for his service in Egypt.

In 1884, he was promoted to colonel. He became the Director of Army Telegraphs. In 1885, his role was no longer needed, and he retired from active duty.

After the Army: Civilian Engineer

Even while serving in the army, Webber worked with civilian companies. He was on the boards of the Bell Telephone Company and the United Bell and Edison Telephone Company. He became a director of the latter.

After retiring from the army, he became a consulting engineer. He advised companies like the City of London Pioneer Electric Light Company and the Chelsea Electricity Supply Company. He was also a director of the Anglo-American Brush Electric Light Corporation.

Webber also helped start the Society of Telegraph Engineers with Sir Francis Bolton. This society later became the Institute of Electrical Engineers in 1880. Webber even served as its president in 1882. He brought a lot of practical experience to the Institute.

Later Life and Legacy

After the death of Frederick Tollemache in 1889, Webber joined his father-in-law as a trustee for the Dysart estate.

Charles Edmund Webber passed away in Margate, Kent, in 1904. He is buried in the churchyard of St Margaret of Antioch in Lee Green.

Works

Charles Webber wrote several books and articles during his career. He also edited a biography about Henry Drury Harness. His article on Light Railways for the Encyclopædia Britannica was published after his death.