Inventor, Surveyor, Administrator. Born and educated in Edinburgh, he joined the Royal Engineers in 1815 rising to the rank of Lieutenant. He became a surveyor with the Ordnance Survey in Ireland. He invented the "Drummond Light", somewhat similar to the heliograph, which used 'limelight' enabling it to be seen at a great distance. In 1825, he set one of his lights on top of Divis Mountain near Belfast and it enabled observations to be made on Slieve Snacht in Donegal, some 66 miles (105 km) distant, improving the accuracy of his surveys. He later adapted his Drummond Light for use in lighthouses. In 1831 he entered political life and was appointed Superintendent of the Boundary Commission set up to ensure fairly apportioned parliamentary constituencies as a result of the Reform Act of 1832. Four years later he was made Under-Secretary of State for Ireland. During his tenure he made it clear to the absentee landlords that "property has its duties as well as its rights" (1838). In 1836 he proposed the appointment of a commission on railways in Ireland, and took a large share in its work. The commission’s recommendation that the state should construct a system of lines throughout the island sadly was not carried out.
Inventor, Surveyor, Administrator. Born and educated in Edinburgh, he joined the Royal Engineers in 1815 rising to the rank of Lieutenant. He became a surveyor with the Ordnance Survey in Ireland. He invented the "Drummond Light", somewhat similar to the heliograph, which used 'limelight' enabling it to be seen at a great distance. In 1825, he set one of his lights on top of Divis Mountain near Belfast and it enabled observations to be made on Slieve Snacht in Donegal, some 66 miles (105 km) distant, improving the accuracy of his surveys. He later adapted his Drummond Light for use in lighthouses. In 1831 he entered political life and was appointed Superintendent of the Boundary Commission set up to ensure fairly apportioned parliamentary constituencies as a result of the Reform Act of 1832. Four years later he was made Under-Secretary of State for Ireland. During his tenure he made it clear to the absentee landlords that "property has its duties as well as its rights" (1838). In 1836 he proposed the appointment of a commission on railways in Ireland, and took a large share in its work. The commission’s recommendation that the state should construct a system of lines throughout the island sadly was not carried out.
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