William Light
William Light | |
|---|---|
Colonel William Light: Self Portrait, c. 1815 | |
| Surveyor General of South Australia | |
| In office 28 December 1836 – 21 June 1838 | |
| Preceded by | office established |
| Succeeded by | George Owen Ormsby (acting) |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 27 April 1786 Kuala Kedah, Kedah (now in Malaysia) |
| Died | 6 October 1839 (aged 53) Adelaide, South Australia |
| Parent(s) | Francis Light and Martinha Rozells |
| Occupation | Surveyor, town planner, soldier |
| Known for | Planning the city of Adelaide |
William Light (27 April 1786 – 6 October 1839) was a British military officer and colonial administrator. He was the first Surveyor-General of the new British Province of South Australia, known for choosing the site of the colony's capital, Adelaide, and for designing the layout of its streets, six city squares, gardens and the figure-eight Adelaide Park Lands, in a plan later sometimes referred to as Light's Vision.