Ambrose, William

AMBROSE, William (1819–1866) was born at Inniscarra, Cork, Ireland, son of Morgan Ambrose, a farmer, and Johannah Sweeny. In 1841, he was living possibly with an uncle or elder brother, at Tower Hamlets, Bethnel Green, London, working as an engine driver. In 1946, he married Julia O’Connell at Bristol, Gloucestershire and by 1851 he was a foundryman at Chepstow. Monmouthshire, Wales. The last two of his six children born before the family migrated to Australia were born in 1856 and 1858 at Neath, an industrial town in South Wales.. In September 1862, the family arrived in Queensland where three more children were born at Brisbane. In July 1863, he was appointed Clerk of Works and City Surveyor for the Brisbane Municipality in preference to John HEAL and was concerned mainly with the construction of roads and bridges and policing the regulations for first class construction in designated sections of the city. It was said that Ambrose carried out his duties under many difficulties, with zeal, honesty, and economy, though “a hasty temper and uncompromising disposition” did not endear him to all. He held his position until his death on 26 October 1866, caused by drowning following a fall from his horse, while in a state of delirium. He was succeeded as Brisbane City Surveyor by his assistant J. FOWLES.