Silston Cory-Wright MC AMICE (22 September 1888 – 3 March 1976) was an English-born New Zealand engineer, university lecturer, soldier, and company director.
The grandson of Sir William Wright, the double-barrelled surname came about as a result of a disagreement between George's side of the family and his half-siblings.
His father spent much of his time managing the family's estates, the income from which had been largely invested in Canada, and in particular the Canadian Pacific Railway.
During this time, he supervised the installation and commissioning of Escher Wyss equipment at Kinlochleven power station for Britain's first aluminium smelter at Fort William, in Scotland.
In 1912, Cory-Wright decided to emigrate to New Zealand, having accepted an appointment as a lecturer in the new associateship in engineering course at Auckland University College.
The business was based on the partners' contacts with major British firms, such as Vickers and English Electric,[2] but also represented over 50 other large international engineering companies.
On behalf of Cory-Wright and Salmon, he supervised the installation of Escher Wyss turbines at Lake Coleridge, and many hydroelectric units for English Electric.
After his retirement, Cory-Wright and Salmon remained well known for its engineering work in prominent New Zealand engineering projects: in partnership with Swiss firm Habegger AG on the Wellington Cable Car, the Ohaaki geothermal power scheme north of Taupo, and the commissioning of the British Aircraft Corporation Strikemaster fighter for the Royal New Zealand Air Force.