 Initially, William's elder brother Robert was intended to take over his father's business, but when Robert opted for a military career, William began to assist his father, surveying land for the Eau Brink Cut, on the River Great Ouse, in 1797.He also undertook work on the Gloucester and Berkeley Canal.In 1804 he was employed by the New River Company as assistant to his father, and upon his father's retirement in November 1810, he became chief engineer of the Company, a post he held until 1861.