Henry Norlande Ruttan
Encyclopedia
Brigadier General Henry Norlande Ruttan (May 21, 1848 - October 13, 1925) was a Canadian engineer
and Canadian Army
Officer. In 1885, he became the first city engineer of Winnipeg, remaining in office until his retirement in 1914.
. He was Winnipeg's city engineer for many years. Of Ruttan's many engineering projects, the James Avenue Pumping Station (1906), was considered the most modern such institution in the world.
A charter member of the Canadian Society for Civil Engineering
, he served as president in 1910. In addition to the Canadian Society of Civil Engineering, he belonged to several other professional organizations, including Institution of Civil Engineers
, American Society of Civil Engineers
, and Royal Society for the encouragement of Arts, Manufactures & Commerce.
A recipient of the Canada General Service Medal
, he was promoted to the rank of Brigadier General
in 1912.
in 1848. He was a United Empire Loyalist, as was his wife, Andrina Barberie of Dalhousie, New Brunswick
, whom he married in 1882. They had nine children, of whom four sons and two daughters survived infancy including Mary Louise Ruttan (b. 1877), Arthur Charles Ruttan, Col. Charles Millidge Ruttan (d. 1970), Francis Norlande Ruttan (b. 1885), and J. D. Ruttan (b. 1888). Ruttan's paternal grandfather, Henry Ruttan
, was Speaker of the Legislative Assembly of Upper Canada.
Ruttan belonged to several social clubs, including Manitoba Club
, Carlton Club
, St. Charles Country Club
, and the Winnipeg Automobile Club
. He was a Mason
, a member of the AF & AM, and he attended the Anglican church.
He died at his home in Armstrong’s Point
, Winnipeg
, Manitoba
in 1925.
Engineer
An engineer is a professional practitioner of engineering, concerned with applying scientific knowledge, mathematics and ingenuity to develop solutions for technical problems. Engineers design materials, structures, machines and systems while considering the limitations imposed by practicality,...
and Canadian Army
Canadian Forces Land Force Command
The Canadian Army , previously called Land Force Command, is responsible for army operations within the Canadian Forces. The current size of the Army is 19,500 regular soldiers and 16,000 reserve soldiers, for a total of around 35,500 soldiers...
Officer. In 1885, he became the first city engineer of Winnipeg, remaining in office until his retirement in 1914.
Career
Ruttan served as a survey engineer to Sir Sandford FlemingSandford Fleming
Sir Sandford Fleming, was a Scottish-born Canadian engineer and inventor, proposed worldwide standard time zones, designed Canada's first postage stamp, a huge body of surveying and map making, engineering much of the Intercolonial Railway and the Canadian Pacific Railway, and was a founding...
. He was Winnipeg's city engineer for many years. Of Ruttan's many engineering projects, the James Avenue Pumping Station (1906), was considered the most modern such institution in the world.
A charter member of the Canadian Society for Civil Engineering
Canadian Society for Civil Engineering
The Canadian Society for Civil Engineering was founded in 1887 as the Canadian Society of Civil Engineers, renamed in 1918 as the Engineering Institute of Canada , and re-established in June 1972 as member society of the EIC under the slightly different but current name...
, he served as president in 1910. In addition to the Canadian Society of Civil Engineering, he belonged to several other professional organizations, including Institution of Civil Engineers
Institution of Civil Engineers
Founded on 2 January 1818, the Institution of Civil Engineers is an independent professional association, based in central London, representing civil engineering. Like its early membership, the majority of its current members are British engineers, but it also has members in more than 150...
, American Society of Civil Engineers
American Society of Civil Engineers
The American Society of Civil Engineers is a professional body founded in 1852 to represent members of the civil engineering profession worldwide. It is the oldest national engineering society in the United States. ASCE's vision is to have engineers positioned as global leaders who strive toward...
, and Royal Society for the encouragement of Arts, Manufactures & Commerce.
A recipient of the Canada General Service Medal
Canada General Service Medal
The Canada General Service Medal was a Canadian campaign medal awarded to both Imperial and Canadian forces for duties related to the Fenian raids between 1866 and 1871...
, he was promoted to the rank of Brigadier General
Brigadier General
Brigadier general is a senior rank in the armed forces. It is the lowest ranking general officer in some countries, usually sitting between the ranks of colonel and major general. When appointed to a field command, a brigadier general is typically in command of a brigade consisting of around 4,000...
in 1912.
Personal life
Ruttan was born in Cobourg, OntarioCobourg, Ontario
Cobourg is a town in the Canadian province of Ontario, located in Southern Ontario 95 km east of Toronto. It is the largest town in Northumberland County. Its nearest neighbour is Port Hope, to the west. It is located along Highway 401 and the former Highway 2...
in 1848. He was a United Empire Loyalist, as was his wife, Andrina Barberie of Dalhousie, New Brunswick
Dalhousie, New Brunswick
Dalhousie is a Canadian town located in Restigouche County, New Brunswick.- History :Dalhousie is the shire town of Restigouche County and dates European settlement to 1800. The Town of Dalhousie has been through some very distinct periods between its founding in 1825 and today...
, whom he married in 1882. They had nine children, of whom four sons and two daughters survived infancy including Mary Louise Ruttan (b. 1877), Arthur Charles Ruttan, Col. Charles Millidge Ruttan (d. 1970), Francis Norlande Ruttan (b. 1885), and J. D. Ruttan (b. 1888). Ruttan's paternal grandfather, Henry Ruttan
Henry Ruttan
Henry Ruttan was a businessman, inventor and politician figure in Upper Canada.He was born in Adolphustown in 1792. At the age of 14, he left school to work in a store in Kingston. He served in the militia during the War of 1812. After the war, he remained in the militia and reached the rank of...
, was Speaker of the Legislative Assembly of Upper Canada.
Ruttan belonged to several social clubs, including Manitoba Club
Manitoba Club
Established in 1874, the Manitoba Club is the oldest private club in western Canada. The Manitoba Club was originally established as a gentleman's club in 1874....
, Carlton Club
Carlton Club
The Carlton Club is a gentlemen's club in London which describes itself as the "oldest, most elite, and most important of all Conservative clubs." Membership of the club is by nomination and election only.-History:...
, St. Charles Country Club
St. Charles Country Club
St. Charles Country Club is a private country club in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. It features three nine hole golf courses, each with a distinct style that reflects the golf course designer responsible for it.- History :...
, and the Winnipeg Automobile Club
Canadian Automobile Association
The Canadian Automobile Association , commonly known as CAA, is a non-profit federation, founded in 1913, of nine clubs across Canada, providing roadside assistance service, a complete range of auto touring and leisure travel services, insurance services, and member discounts with preferred...
. He was a Mason
Freemasonry
Freemasonry is a fraternal organisation that arose from obscure origins in the late 16th to early 17th century. Freemasonry now exists in various forms all over the world, with a membership estimated at around six million, including approximately 150,000 under the jurisdictions of the Grand Lodge...
, a member of the AF & AM, and he attended the Anglican church.
He died at his home in Armstrong’s Point
Armstrong’s Point
Armstrong’s Point is a large bend in the Assiniboine River, just west of downtown, in West End, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada...
, Winnipeg
Winnipeg
Winnipeg is the capital and largest city of Manitoba, Canada, and is the primary municipality of the Winnipeg Capital Region, with more than half of Manitoba's population. It is located near the longitudinal centre of North America, at the confluence of the Red and Assiniboine Rivers .The name...
, Manitoba
Manitoba
Manitoba is a Canadian prairie province with an area of . The province has over 110,000 lakes and has a largely continental climate because of its flat topography. Agriculture, mostly concentrated in the fertile southern and western parts of the province, is vital to the province's economy; other...
in 1925.