What is "surveyor general"

Surveyor \Sur*vey"or\, n.

1. One placed to superintend others; an overseer; an inspector.

   Were 't not madness then, To make the fox surveyor of the fold?
   --Shak.

2. One who views and examines for the purpose of ascertaining the condition, quantity, or quality of anything; as, a surveyor of highways, ordnance, etc.

3. One who surveys or measures land; one who practices the art of surveying.

4. (Customs)

   1. An officer who ascertains the contents of casks, and the quantity of liquors subject to duty; a gauger.

   2. In the United States, an officer whose duties include the various measures to be taken for ascertaining the quantity, condition, and value of merchandise brought into a port. --Abbot. Surveyor general.

      1. A principal surveyor; as, the surveyor general of the king's manors, or of woods and parks. [Eng.]

      2. An officer having charge of the survey of the public lands of a land district. [U.S.]
         --Davies & Peck (Math. Dict.).

         Surveyor's compass. See Circumferentor.

         Surveyor's level. See under Level.

The Surveyor General is an official responsible for government surveying in a specific country or territory. Historically this would often have been a military appointment, but it is now more likely to be a civilian post.

The following Surveyor General positions exist, or have existed historically:

• Surveyors General in Australia:
  • Surveyor General of New South Wales
  • Surveyor General of South Australia
  • Surveyor General of Queensland
  • Surveyor General of Tasmania
  • Surveyor General of the Northern Territory
  • Surveyor General of Victoria
  • Surveyor General of Western Australia
• Surveyors General in Canada:
  • Arpenteur général du Québec
  • Surveyor General of Ontario
  • Surveyor General of Nova Scotia
• Surveyors-General in British North America
  • Surveyor General of the Colony of Vancouver Island
    • Joseph Despard Pemberton
  • Surveyor General of New Brunswick
    • Robert Power (surveyor)
• Surveyor General of Cornwall, UK
• Surveyor General of Hong Kong
• Surveyor General of India
• Surveyor General of Ireland
• Surveyor General of New Netherland
• The Surveyor General of Pakistan
• Surveyor General of Sri Lanka (formerly Surveyor General of Ceylon)
• Surveyors General in the United States and its colonial predecessors:
  • Surveyor General of the United States
  • Surveyor General of Arizona
  • Surveyor General of North Carolina
    • Surveyor General of the Province of North Carolina
  • Surveyor General of the Northwest Territory (today's north-central U.S.)
  • Surveyor General of Spanish Louisiana