Edmund Morel (railway engineer)
Encyclopedia
Edmund Morel was a British civil engineer
who was engaged in railway construction in many countries, including New Zealand, Australia, and Japan. He was the first foreign Engineer-in-Chief appointed by the Japanese government, for guiding and supervising railway construction in Japan.
on 17 November 1840 (recorded as 1841 on his gravestone). He studied civil engineering at King's College London
.
In the 1860s, Morel was active in British North Borneo
building a railway system, and was living at Labuan
island, when invited to Japan by British envoy Sir Harry Parkes
. During his short assignment in Japan, he made significant proposals to the Japanese government regarding engineering administration and education. The government established the Ministry of Public Works in December 1870 on his advice. The new ministry's function was integrating introduction of foreign technologies and their application. Morel designed Japan's first railway, connecting the former Shimbashi Station
in Tokyo with Sakuragichō Station
in Yokohama. The locomotives and rails were imported from England. Through discussions with Itō Hirobumi
and Ōkuma Shigenobu
, Morel advised on what industries and technologies were necessary for Japan to build railways on its own in the future, and through discussions, Japan's standard railway gauge of was established. During poor weather, when work on the line was not possible, he took his Japanese engineers and surveyors into his own house for lectures.
Morel suffered from tuberculosis
before his arrival in Japan, and as his condition worsened, he resigned his post with the intention going to India, and received a 5,000 yen reward from the Japanese government, a tremendous amount at the time. However, he died in Yokohama on 5 November 1871, shortly before the opening ceremonies for the railway he helped to build. His grave in the "Foreigners' Cemetery" in Yokohama is designated as a "national railway memorial". A bronze bust outside Sakuragichō Station in Yokohama commemorates his work in Japan. His common-law wife, a Japanese national, committed suicide only 12 hours after Morel, and is buried next to him.
Civil engineer
A civil engineer is a person who practices civil engineering; the application of planning, designing, constructing, maintaining, and operating infrastructures while protecting the public and environmental health, as well as improving existing infrastructures that have been neglected.Originally, a...
who was engaged in railway construction in many countries, including New Zealand, Australia, and Japan. He was the first foreign Engineer-in-Chief appointed by the Japanese government, for guiding and supervising railway construction in Japan.
Biography
Morel was born in LondonLondon
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
on 17 November 1840 (recorded as 1841 on his gravestone). He studied civil engineering at King's College London
King's College London
King's College London is a public research university located in London, United Kingdom and a constituent college of the federal University of London. King's has a claim to being the third oldest university in England, having been founded by King George IV and the Duke of Wellington in 1829, and...
.
In the 1860s, Morel was active in British North Borneo
North Borneo
North Borneo was a British protectorate under the sovereign North Borneo Chartered Company from 1882 to 1946. After the war it became a crown colony of Great Britain from 1946 to 1963, known in this time as British North Borneo. It is located on the northeastern end of the island of Borneo. It is...
building a railway system, and was living at Labuan
Labuan
Labuan is a federal territory in East Malaysia. It is an island off the coast of the state of Sabah. Labuan's capital is Victoria and is best known as an offshore financial centre offering international financial and business services via Labuan IBFC since 1990 as well as being an offshore support...
island, when invited to Japan by British envoy Sir Harry Parkes
Harry Smith Parkes
Sir Harry Smith Parkes was a 19th century British diplomat who worked mainly in China and Japan...
. During his short assignment in Japan, he made significant proposals to the Japanese government regarding engineering administration and education. The government established the Ministry of Public Works in December 1870 on his advice. The new ministry's function was integrating introduction of foreign technologies and their application. Morel designed Japan's first railway, connecting the former Shimbashi Station
Shimbashi Station
is a major interchange station in Tokyo's Minato Ward. Located centrally and a 10-minute walk from the Ginza shopping district, directly south of Tokyo station.-History:...
in Tokyo with Sakuragichō Station
Sakuragicho Station
, is a railway station located in Naka Ward, Yokohama, Japan.-Lines:Sakuragichō Station is served by the following lines.*East Japan Railway Company**Keihin-Tōhoku Line / Negishi Line*Yokohama Municipal Subway**Blue Line -Station layout:...
in Yokohama. The locomotives and rails were imported from England. Through discussions with Itō Hirobumi
Ito Hirobumi
Prince was a samurai of Chōshū domain, Japanese statesman, four time Prime Minister of Japan , genrō and Resident-General of Korea. Itō was assassinated by An Jung-geun, a Korean nationalist who was against the annexation of Korea by the Japanese Empire...
and Ōkuma Shigenobu
Okuma Shigenobu
Marquis ; was a statesman in the Empire of Japan and the 8th and 17th Prime Minister of Japan...
, Morel advised on what industries and technologies were necessary for Japan to build railways on its own in the future, and through discussions, Japan's standard railway gauge of was established. During poor weather, when work on the line was not possible, he took his Japanese engineers and surveyors into his own house for lectures.
Morel suffered from tuberculosis
Tuberculosis
Tuberculosis, MTB, or TB is a common, and in many cases lethal, infectious disease caused by various strains of mycobacteria, usually Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Tuberculosis usually attacks the lungs but can also affect other parts of the body...
before his arrival in Japan, and as his condition worsened, he resigned his post with the intention going to India, and received a 5,000 yen reward from the Japanese government, a tremendous amount at the time. However, he died in Yokohama on 5 November 1871, shortly before the opening ceremonies for the railway he helped to build. His grave in the "Foreigners' Cemetery" in Yokohama is designated as a "national railway memorial". A bronze bust outside Sakuragichō Station in Yokohama commemorates his work in Japan. His common-law wife, a Japanese national, committed suicide only 12 hours after Morel, and is buried next to him.