Self portrait

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 site of Adelaide and designing its layout, which included a grid pattern of streets, six public squares, and the Adelaide Park Lands.

Artistic and Professional Legacy

As a gifted painter and sketcher, Light produced various works, including watercolours and an incomplete self-portrait in oils. His artistic output included sketches of Egypt and views of Pompeii. Some of his paintings are held in the following locations:

Light's professional life was marked by his significant role in the founding of the province of South Australia. He was involved in surveying the Port River and the town of Glenelg. Despite facing opposition regarding his choice of the city site, his plan for Adelaide remains a lasting legacy. He died in Adelaide in 1839.