2025-12-22 Mon

Ardaseer Cursetjee Wadia, a stalwart in the field of engineering, was born on 06 October 1808 in Surat, which was part of the Baroda State and is now in Gujarat. He is distinguished as the first Indian Fellow of the Royal Society and hailed from the esteemed Wadia family, known for their expertise in shipbuilding and marine architecture.

From an early age, he demonstrated a profound interest in the application of Steam power for maritime purposes. At the age of 14, he began his Career with the East India Company, following in the footsteps of his father and uncle. He trained as a marine engineer at the government shipyard and, in 1833, designed and launched the vessel Indus, which was the second steamer constructed in Bombay (now Mumbai), following the HCS Hugh Lindsay. This Vessel was subsequently acquired by the Bombay Government.

However, his fascination with technology was not just confined to shipbuilding. He introduced several groundbreaking technologies to Bombay, such as gas lighting, the sewing machine, steam pump-driven irrigation, and electroplating. In recognition of his contributions, he became a non-resident member of the Royal Asiatic Society of England in 1837. In 1839, he arrived at blackwall, England.

He spent a year in London, working with John and Samuel Seaward, who were early advocates of auxiliary steam power in maritime applications. His expertise and dedication earned him recognition from the British engineering Community, culminating in his election as an Associate of the Institution of Civil Engineering in 1840. He documented his experiences of England in a publication titled 'Diary of an Overland Journey from Bombay to England, and of a Year's Residence in Great Britain' (1840).

Upon returning to India in November 1840, he was appointed as the chief engineer and inspector of machinery at the East India Company’s Bombay Steam Factory. In May 1841, he assumed leadership of the steam branch of the Indian Navy, becoming the first Indian to be placed in a position of authority over Europeans. Notably, he was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society in London during the same month.

He remained the Chief Engineer at the Bombay Docks until his retirement. In 1858, he made his final visit to London, choosing to reside permanently in the United Kingdom. He passed away on 16 November 1877 in Richmond, London. In 2021, in recognition of his achievements, English Heritage unveiled a blue plaque in his honor in London.

On 27 May 1969, India post commemorated his legacy by issuing a stamp featuring his #portrait against a backdrop of the Bombay docks, with a face value of 20 paise.