Waynman Dixon

Waynman Dixon (1844–1930)[1] was a British engineer, known for his work on the Great Pyramid of Giza and for discovering the only Egyptian artefacts to be found inside that pyramid.

Two of the "Dixon Relics": a stone sphere and metal hook
Construction of the cylinder around Cleopatra's Needle in 1877

The three objects found in the Great Pyramid of Giza, the so-called "Dixon Relics", are tools: a small dolerite ball, a copper hook (both now in the British Museum in London), and a fragment of cedar wood in the Marischal Museum, Aberdeen.[2][3][4] He also discovered two shafts out from the Queen's Chamber of the Great Pyramid, similar to those that connect the King's Chamber to the outside wall of the pyramid, although these don't extend all the way.[5]

Outside of his interest in Egypt, he worked as a manager of Sir Raylton Dixon & Co, a Cleveland-based shipbuilding company, alongside his brothers in Middlesbrough:[6] he retired from the board of the company in 1917.[7] He also served as an honorary consul of Japan in later life.[8] One brother, John Dixon (1835–1891), designed the cylinder that transported Cleopatra's Needle from Egypt to London, and Waynman himself was tasked with building it around the obelisk.[5][6] The other brother, Sir Raylton Dixon, was also an engineer and shipbuilder, and served as Mayor of Middlesbrough.[9]

Honours

In 1896, Dixon was appointed a Knight of Grace of the Venerable Order of St John (KStJ).[10] He was awarded the Service Medal of the Order of St John in 1900.[11] In 1922, he was awarded the Order of the Sacred Treasure (Third Class) by the Emperor of Japan.[8]

References
  1. "RAILWAYS – DIXON FAMILY and CHAT MOSS. Manuscripts and printed ephemera collected by the civil engineer and Egyptologist Waynman Dixon (1844-1930), principally relating his uncle John Dixon the younger (1796-1865), chief assistant to George Stephenson and Resident Engineer during construction of the Liverpool and Manchester Railway". Bonhams. Retrieved 16 December 2020.
  2. "Great Pyramid: Lost Egyptian artefact found in Aberdeen cigar box". BBC News. 16 December 2020. Retrieved 16 December 2020.
  3. Yeung, Jessie (16 December 2020). "5,000-year-old relic from the Great Pyramid discovered in a cigar box in Scotland". CNN. Retrieved 16 December 2020.
  4. "Pounder (EA67818)". The British Museum. Retrieved 16 December 2020.
  5. "Moving photos of Cleopatra's Needle sold at auction". Antiques Trade Gazette. 6 March 2008. Retrieved 16 December 2020.
  6. "Waynman Dixon". Graces Guide. Retrieved 16 December 2020.
  7. "Sir Raylton Dixon & Co. (Ltd.)". The Times. No. 41519. 2 July 1917. p. 13.
  8. "No. 32695". The London Gazette. 9 May 1922. p. 3623.
  9. "Raylton Dixon". Graces Guide. Retrieved 16 December 2020.
  10. "No. 26725". The London Gazette (Supplement). 27 March 1896. pp. 1959–1961.
  11. "Court Circular". The Times. No. 36192. 12 July 1900. p. 9.
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