Resignation from the Imperial College

After almost ten years as Principal of the Imperial College of Engineering Henry Dyer resigned from his post for 'personal and family reasons', and returned with his family to Scotland . On July 14 1882 the Dyer family (Henry and Marie, four children and a servant) sailed on the British steamer Arabic for San Francisco en route to the United Kingdom. Henry Dyer during his period as Principal of the ICE had been a strong positive influence in the industrialisation of Japan. The family returned to Glasgow where Henry and Marie spent the rest of their lives.

By the time Henry Dyer left Japan many of the former students of the Imperial College of Engineering (known locally as Kobu-Daigakko) were involved in important engineering works not only in Japan but in China, Korea and other parts of the Far East as well.

Western type bridge in Japan

On leaving Japan Henry Dyer was awarded the Order of the Rising Sun (Third Class), the highest order of its kind given to any foreign employee up to that time. He was also appointed Honorary Principal of the Imperial College and, after the College became a part of the University of Tokyo, he was appointed an Emeritus Professor of the University. He was also made an honorary member of many of the Japanese scientific and engineering societies which he had been instrumental in forming.