Brian McConnell
Encyclopedia
Brian Douglas McConnell (29 February 1836 in Gaspe Basin Quebec
, Canada
— 13 July 1930 in North Bay
, Ontario
, Canada
) was one of Canada's “pioneer railway builders.” He was educated as a Civil Engineer
at Sorel in Quebec City
(1846-1853).
After graduating, McConnell was articled to the land surveyor Robert Hayden
in 1853 and began professional employment at the office of Thomas Keefer
in 1854. While at that firm, he worked as a rodman
on the construction of the Montreal Aqueduct.
Between 1854 and 1870 McConnell lived in Quebec and worked on such contracts as dredging and improving Montreal Harbour (1863) and the Quebec Harbour (1866).
McConnell is best known, however, for his work on the Canadian Pacific Railway
. He was among the eighteen civil engineers to originally survey the north shore of Lake Superior
in 1878. At this time, he was employed by the Government of Canada
as the C.P.R. had not yet assumed charge over the project. Having completed his work in Northern Ontario
, McConnell returned to Montreal
and became the superintendent for the city’s water works where he remained until 1892. He was the resident engineer for the city of Westmount
(1893-1896) and finally entered into private practice and remained as such until 1916.
He was a member of the Canadian Society of Civil Engineers, the Engineering Institute of Canada
, the Land Surveyors of Quebec
, the New England Water Works Association, and a member of the Church of England
. McConnell’s early work on the C.P.R. and subsequent achievements makes him an important figure in the history of Canada, and Canadian engineering. McConnell's official biographer is historian, Daniel Hambly.
Quebec
Quebec or is a province in east-central Canada. It is the only Canadian province with a predominantly French-speaking population and the only one whose sole official language is French at the provincial level....
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
— 13 July 1930 in North Bay
North Bay, Ontario
North Bay is a city in Northeastern Ontario, Canada. It is the seat of Nipissing District, and takes its name from its position on the shore of Lake Nipissing.-History:...
, Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
) was one of Canada's “pioneer railway builders.” He was educated as a Civil Engineer
Civil engineer
A civil engineer is a person who practices civil engineering; the application of planning, designing, constructing, maintaining, and operating infrastructures while protecting the public and environmental health, as well as improving existing infrastructures that have been neglected.Originally, a...
at Sorel in Quebec City
Quebec City
Quebec , also Québec, Quebec City or Québec City is the capital of the Canadian province of Quebec and is located within the Capitale-Nationale region. It is the second most populous city in Quebec after Montreal, which is about to the southwest...
(1846-1853).
After graduating, McConnell was articled to the land surveyor Robert Hayden
Robert Hayden
Robert Hayden was an American poet, essayist, educator. He was appointed Consultant in Poetry to the Library of Congress in 1976.-Biography:...
in 1853 and began professional employment at the office of Thomas Keefer
Thomas Keefer
Thomas Coltrin Keefer was a Canadian civil engineer.Born into an Empire Loyalist family in Thorold Township, Upper Canada, the son of George Keefer and Jane Emory, née McBride, his father was Chairman of the Welland Shipping Canal Company...
in 1854. While at that firm, he worked as a rodman
Rodman
-Places in the United States:* Rodman, Iowa* Rodman, New York* Rodman Mountains, California* Rodman Reservoir, Florida-People:* Rodman "Rod" Serling, television host* Dennis Rodman, former NBA basketball player* Isaac P...
on the construction of the Montreal Aqueduct.
Between 1854 and 1870 McConnell lived in Quebec and worked on such contracts as dredging and improving Montreal Harbour (1863) and the Quebec Harbour (1866).
McConnell is best known, however, for his work on the Canadian Pacific Railway
Canadian Pacific Railway
The Canadian Pacific Railway , formerly also known as CP Rail between 1968 and 1996, is a historic Canadian Class I railway founded in 1881 and now operated by Canadian Pacific Railway Limited, which began operations as legal owner in a corporate restructuring in 2001...
. He was among the eighteen civil engineers to originally survey the north shore of Lake Superior
Lake Superior
Lake Superior is the largest of the five traditionally-demarcated Great Lakes of North America. It is bounded to the north by the Canadian province of Ontario and the U.S. state of Minnesota, and to the south by the U.S. states of Wisconsin and Michigan. It is the largest freshwater lake in the...
in 1878. At this time, he was employed by the Government of Canada
Government of Canada
The Government of Canada, formally Her Majesty's Government, is the system whereby the federation of Canada is administered by a common authority; in Canadian English, the term can mean either the collective set of institutions or specifically the Queen-in-Council...
as the C.P.R. had not yet assumed charge over the project. Having completed his work in Northern Ontario
Northern Ontario
Northern Ontario is a region of the Canadian province of Ontario which lies north of Lake Huron , the French River and Lake Nipissing. The region has a land area of 802,000 km2 and constitutes 87% of the land area of Ontario, although it contains only about 6% of the population...
, McConnell returned to Montreal
Montreal
Montreal is a city in Canada. It is the largest city in the province of Quebec, the second-largest city in Canada and the seventh largest in North America...
and became the superintendent for the city’s water works where he remained until 1892. He was the resident engineer for the city of Westmount
Westmount, Quebec
Westmount is a city on the Island of Montreal, an enclave of the city of Montreal, in southwestern Quebec, Canada; pop. 20,494; area 4.02 km²; population density of 5,092.56 inhabitants/km²....
(1893-1896) and finally entered into private practice and remained as such until 1916.
He was a member of the Canadian Society of Civil Engineers, the Engineering Institute of Canada
Engineering Institute of Canada
The Engineering Institute of Canada is a federation of twelve engineering societies based in Canada, covering a broad range of engineering branches, and with a history going back to 1887...
, the Land Surveyors of Quebec
Quebec
Quebec or is a province in east-central Canada. It is the only Canadian province with a predominantly French-speaking population and the only one whose sole official language is French at the provincial level....
, the New England Water Works Association, and a member of the Church of England
Church of England
The Church of England is the officially established Christian church in England and the Mother Church of the worldwide Anglican Communion. The church considers itself within the tradition of Western Christianity and dates its formal establishment principally to the mission to England by St...
. McConnell’s early work on the C.P.R. and subsequent achievements makes him an important figure in the history of Canada, and Canadian engineering. McConnell's official biographer is historian, Daniel Hambly.