Charles Greaves M Inst CE FGS FRSA (1816–1883), eldest son of Charles Greaves (d. 1829), was born in Great Amwell, Hertfordshire on 19 October 1816.
He was articled to J. M. Rendel, a civil engineer in Plymouth from 1831 to 1837.
He was in India from 1842 to 1847 when he made a survey for the Great Western railway of Bengal.
In October 1872, he was presented with £1000 for his services in carrying out improved filter beds, pumping engines, et cetera, at a cost of one million.
He was engineer at Westminster chambers, Victoria St., London from 1875 to 1878.