  sir william francis drummond jervois, gcmg, cb (10 september 182117 august 1897) was a british military engineer and diplomat. after joining the british army in 1839, he saw service, as a second captain, in south africa. in 1858, as a major, he was appointed secretary of a royal commission set up to examine the state and efficiency of british land-based fortifications against naval attack; and this led to further work in canada and south australia. from 1875 to 1888 he was, consecutively, governor of the straits settlements, governor of south australia and governor-general of new zealand. ==early life== born on 10 september 1821 in cowes in the isle of wight, jervois was the son of sir william jervois (pronounced "jarvis"), and his wife eliz
1821_births 1897_deaths British_Army_generals British_people_of_Huguenot_descent Companions_of_the_Order_of_the_Bath Fellows_of_the_Royal_Society Governors-General_of_New_Zealand Governors_of_South_Australia Knights_Grand_Cross_of_the_Order_of_St_Michael_and_St_George Presidents_of_the_Smeatonian_Society_of_Civil_Engineers Royal_Engineers_officers