Dictionary of Indian Biography/Andrew, Sir William Patrick
ANDREW, SIR WILLIAM PATRICK (1807–1887)
Born 1807 : son of Patrick Andrew : educated at Edinburgh and Oxford : was for a short time in India in his younger days : published a work on Indian Railways, 1846 : devoted much attention to the promotion of railway and telegraphic communication between England and India : specially advocating the scheme for an Euphrates Valley Railway : submitted to the Home Government his schemes for the defence of India : published, during 40 years, a number of works, letters and papers, and delivered lectures on the subject of Indian railways, the Euphrates Valley route, and the importance of the Indus and its provinces : was founder and Chairman of the Sind, Panjab and Delhi Railway : in 1856 he arranged with Government for the establishment of telegraphic communication with India : lectured and wrote on the Central Asian question, 1872–86 : wrote to the Times on the Advance of Russia : wrote India and her Neighbours, 1878 : advocated the construction of railway lines to the Bolan and the Khyber : advocated the 5 '6" gauge for Indian railways : Chairman in 1879 of a meeting to promote the construction of a railway from the Persian Gulf to Constantinople and the Mediterranean : was called " an apostle of railways," "the railway statesman," "the pioneer of railway enterprise" : continued to urge the advantage of the Euphrates Valley line as alternative to that of the Red Sea : knighted, 1882 : C.I.E. : Fellow of many scientific societies : died March 11, 1887.