The Dictionary of Australasian Biography/Wright, Hon. John Arthur
Wright, Hon. John Arthur, M.L.C., M.Inst.C.E., son of John Wright, was born at Dover, England, and was articled to the late Joseph Cubitt, Vice-President Institute Civil Engineers. After a varied engineering experience in England, Spain, Russia, and France, Mr. Wright was Director of Public Works, Engineer-in-Chief, and Commissioner of Railways in Western Australia, with a seat in the Legislative and Executive Councils, from 1885 to 1889, when he retired from the public service to become manager of the Western Australian Land Company. Mr. Wright has since acted as Consulting Engineer to the Government. He was nominated to the Upper House after responsible government was conceded at the end of 1890, and was one of the representatives of Western Australia at the Sydney Federation Convention in March 1891. He has received the royal warrant to bear the title of "Honourable" within the colony of Western Australia. Mr. Wright married in Jan. 1870 Katherine, second daughter of Peter Whitington, M.D., of Tuxford, Nottingham, England.