William Twiss

General William Twiss, (1745 – 14 March 1827), was a British Army Royal Engineer, responsible for the design of many military defences.

Returning to England, he commenced work on the defences at Portsmouth Dockyard, before accompanying General Sir John Burgoyne's army to Canada in 1776, where he was responsible for a number of defensive programmes.

Over the following years, Twiss oversaw the construction of various defences, including the chain of Martello Towers along the Kent and Sussex coastline.

Twiss also accompanied the army on expeditions to the Netherlands, the Channel Islands and Ireland.

Twiss was promoted to Major General in 1805, and in 1809 became colonel-commandant of Royal Engineers Corps.