Francis Fowke was born in Ballysillan, Belfast, and studied at Dungannon, County Tyrone, and the military college in Woolwich. He obtained a commission in the Royal Engineers and served with distinction in Bermuda and Paris. When he returned he was appointed architect and engineer in charge of the building of several government structures, among them the Industrial Museum in Edinburgh, the National Gallery, Dublin, and the London Exhibition buildings. He died of a burst blood-vessel before he had time to complete the South Kensington Museum, and his suggested designs became the basis for the plan of the Albert Hall, London.

Born:	7 July 1823
Died:	4 December 1865