Epitaph of Henry Dyer : Pioneer of International Interchange between Britain and Japan

Abstract

Henry Dyer (1848-1918) contributed to laying the foundations of sound engineering education in Japan as Principal, and also Professor of Civil and Mechanical Engineering at the Imperial College of Engineering in Tokyo (known locally as the Kobu-Daigakko), the forerunner of the Faculty of Engineering of the University of Tokyo, during 1873-1882.After returning to his country, Dyer continued to study Japanese affairs, resulting in the publication of works such as Dai Nippon, and Japan in World Politics. He was appointed financial and industrial correspondent to the Japanese government in 1902, and provided Japanese students in Scotland with support for their dailylife, and educational matters. He also gave guidance and encouragement to his former students, who visited him during their travels abroad.When Dyer died on 25 September 1918, the news was sent to Japan through Reuters' in London, and many obituaries and memorial writings appeared in the major newspapers and magazines in Britain, as well as in Japan. However, strangely enough, the time and cause of his death were not mentioned in either country. My investigation of his Register of Death showed that he died of pneumonia at his home at 5 : 30 pm on 26 September after falling ill just one day before.It merits attention that, in obituaries and memorial writings and also inscription on his tombstone in the Nekropolis Cemetery, Glasgow, Dyer was praised for his activities as a pioneer of International Interchange between Britain and Japan. On his epitaph there is specific mention of his two main careers in life : 'Formerly Principal of the Imperial college of Engineering, Tokyo, Japan, ' as well as 'Chairman of the Schoolboard of Glasgow'. Who Was Who also lays speciai stress on his career as a promoter of interchanges between the two countries.