James Vetch

James Vetch (13 May 1789 - 7 December 1869) was an officer in the Royal Engineers who carried out much mapping and surveying work, and was a member of the Metropolitan Commission of Sewers.

Born in Haddington, Scotland, Vetch entered the Royal Military Academy, Woolwich, receiving a commission as a second lieutenant in the Royal Engineers in 1807. He served in the Peninsula War, having advanced too the rank of captain by 1813.

In 1821 Vetch was appointed to the Ordnance Survey, and was employed in mapping the Orkney and Shetland Islands. In 1824 he retired on half pay and moved to Mexico, where he managed a number of silver mines. He returned to the United Kingdom in 1835 and in the following year was given the task of settling the boundaries of the Irish parliamentary boroughs. He spent four years as engineer to the Birmingham and Gloucester Railway and was employed by various government agencies for his expertise in reclaiming tidal lands.

In 1842 he was employed by Leeds Town council to produce a system of drainage for the borough, and in 1843 worked on a scheme of drainage for Windsor Castle and the royal parks.

In 1849 Vetch was appointed a member of the Metropolitan Commission of Sewers, during which time he designed a new sewerage system for the Southwark area. His term of office ended in 1854.

He had been employed as a consulting engineer by the admiralty since 1846, and in 1853 he became sole Conservator oof Harbours. He held this post until his retirement in 1863.

He died in London in December 1869 and was buried in Highgate Cemetery.