Thomas Havers

In February or March 1861 Havers and his family sailed to Montevideo, settling in the Union neighbourhood.^[3] There, he established connections with the British Consulate, founded The Montevideo Times, a short lived English language publication which appeared from 1864 to 1865, and later was named Director of Public Works by General Flores.^[4] In this role, he managed the design and construction of a building to house the office of Mail, Museum and Public Library Correos, Museo y Biblioteca Pública, located in Sarandí street, and opened in 1867.^[5] He later oversaw the construction of the Mercado Central de Montevideo (Montevideo Central Market). Borrowing from Mannerist traditions,^[1] the building occupied a two-acre site which opened 1 April 1869, at a cost of £80,000. It mainly sold agricultural and seafood products. Shortly after its inauguration, a storm resulted in significant water ingress to the structure, and the failure of its plumbing, gutters and sewer system. On arrival to assess the damage, Havers was met by an angry mob which pelted him with fruit and vegetables, until he was rescued by the local police.^[6]

Havers was married twice, to Ellen Ruding in 1844 and later Mary Clare Coppinger in 1855. He had 8 children, including the writer and novelist Dorothy Boulger and painter and illustrator Alice Havers. He died in March 1870 in Montevideo, and was buried in The British Cemetery in Montevideo.^[4] Upon Thomas' death, his children by Ellen, now young adults and four younger children by Mary, all returned to England in April and May of the same year.^[7]