Francis Fowke

He studied at The Royal School Dungannon, County Tyrone, and the Royal Military Academy, Woolwich. He obtained a commission in the Royal Engineers, and served with distinction in Bermuda and Paris. On his return to England, he was appointed architect and engineer in charge of the construction of several government buildings. Among his projects were the Prince Consort's Library in Aldershot, the Royal Albert Hall and parts of the Victoria and Albert Museum in London, the Industrial Museum of Scotland (Edinburgh Museum of Science and Art) in Edinburgh, and the National Gallery of Ireland in Dublin. He was also responsible for planning the 1862 International Exhibition in London. The International Exhibition building was described as 'a wretched shed' by The Art Journal. Parliament declined the Government's proposal to purchase the building; the materials were sold and used for the construction of Alexandra Palace. Before his sudden death from a burst blood vessel, he won the competition for the design of the Natural History Museum, although he did not live to see it executed. His renaissance designs for the museum were altered and realised in the 1870s by Alfred Waterhouse, on the site of Fowke's Exhibition building. A medal was issued by the Royal Engineers in 1865, as a memorial prize for architectural works carried out by members of the corps.

• Name — Francis Fowke • Born — 7 July 1823 • Birthplace — Ballysillan, Belfast, Ireland • Died — 4 December 1865 • Place of death — London, England • Significant Buildings — Victoria & Albert Museum Chiswick House Royal Albert Hall Royal Museum Edinburgh

• Illustration — Victoria & Albert Museum, north side of garden, original main entrance • Illustration — Royal Albert Hall • Illustration — Edinburgh Museum of Science and Art (Royal Museum) • Illustration — Edinburgh Museum of Science and Art (Royal Museum), main hall • Illustration — The Prince Consort's Library in Aldershot, Hampshire