The Life and Vision of William Light William Light was a British military officer, surveyor, and painter. Born in Kuala Kedah, Malaysia, he was the son of Francis Light and Martinha Rozells. After being educated in Suffolk, England, he served in the Royal Navy and later the British Army, participating in the Peninsular War under the Duke of Wellington. His travels took him through France, Italy, and Sicily, and he eventually traveled to Egypt, where he became friends with Muhammad Ali, Pasha. In 1836, he arrived in South Australia as the first Surveyor-General. He is noted for choosing the si…