Robert Legget
Encyclopedia
Robert Ferguson Legget, CC
, FRSC
(September 29, 1904 – April 17, 1994) was a civil engineer
, historian
and non-fiction
writer
. He was internationally known for his contributions to engineering, geology
and building research and standardization. He is credited with the establishment of co-operation among Canadian geotechnical engineers, geologists and pedologists
.
Legget was born in Liverpool
, England
of Scottish
parents. He obtained a B.Eng. (Hons) 1925, M.Eng. 1927, and D.Eng. (honorary) 1971 from the University of Liverpool
.
Legget died in Ottawa at the age of 89.
and the University of Toronto
. He left teaching in 1947 to establish and serve as director of the National Research Council of Canada
's new Division of Building Research. He held this position until he retired in 1969.
Around 1945, after World War II
, Leggat shaped the Environmental Conservation
movement in Ontario
by spearheading the Guelph Conference, the Ganaraska Study and the Conservation Authorities Act of Ontario
(1946).
He was the founding President of the Canadian Academy of Engineering
.
Between 1959 and 1960, Legget was the Chairman of the Engineering Geology Division of the Geological Society of America
.
Order of Canada
The Order of Canada is a Canadian national order, admission into which is, within the system of orders, decorations, and medals of Canada, the second highest honour for merit...
, FRSC
Royal Society of Canada
The Royal Society of Canada , may also operate under the more descriptive name RSC: The Academies of Arts, Humanities and Sciences of Canada , is the oldest association of scientists and scholars in Canada...
(September 29, 1904 – April 17, 1994) was 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...
, historian
Historian
A historian is a person who studies and writes about the past and is regarded as an authority on it. Historians are concerned with the continuous, methodical narrative and research of past events as relating to the human race; as well as the study of all history in time. If the individual is...
and non-fiction
Non-fiction
Non-fiction is the form of any narrative, account, or other communicative work whose assertions and descriptions are understood to be fact...
writer
Writer
A writer is a person who produces literature, such as novels, short stories, plays, screenplays, poetry, or other literary art. Skilled writers are able to use language to portray ideas and images....
. He was internationally known for his contributions to engineering, geology
Geology
Geology is the science comprising the study of solid Earth, the rocks of which it is composed, and the processes by which it evolves. Geology gives insight into the history of the Earth, as it provides the primary evidence for plate tectonics, the evolutionary history of life, and past climates...
and building research and standardization. He is credited with the establishment of co-operation among Canadian geotechnical engineers, geologists and pedologists
Pedology (soil study)
Pedology is the study of soils in their natural environment. It is one of two main branches of soil science, the other being edaphology...
.
Legget was born in Liverpool
Liverpool
Liverpool is a city and metropolitan borough of Merseyside, England, along the eastern side of the Mersey Estuary. It was founded as a borough in 1207 and was granted city status in 1880...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
of Scottish
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
parents. He obtained a B.Eng. (Hons) 1925, M.Eng. 1927, and D.Eng. (honorary) 1971 from the University of Liverpool
University of Liverpool
The University of Liverpool is a teaching and research university in the city of Liverpool, England. It is a member of the Russell Group of large research-intensive universities and the N8 Group for research collaboration. Founded in 1881 , it is also one of the six original "red brick" civic...
.
Legget died in Ottawa at the age of 89.
Career
He worked for 11 years as a civil engineer in the construction industry in England and subsequently in Canada. In 1936, he began teaching at Queen's UniversityQueen's University
Queen's University, , is a public research university located in Kingston, Ontario, Canada. Founded on 16 October 1841, the university pre-dates the founding of Canada by 26 years. Queen's holds more more than of land throughout Ontario as well as Herstmonceux Castle in East Sussex, England...
and the University of Toronto
University of Toronto
The University of Toronto is a public research university in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, situated on the grounds that surround Queen's Park. It was founded by royal charter in 1827 as King's College, the first institution of higher learning in Upper Canada...
. He left teaching in 1947 to establish and serve as director of the National Research Council of Canada
National Research Council of Canada
The National Research Council is an agency of the Government of Canada which conducts scientific research and development.- History :...
's new Division of Building Research. He held this position until he retired in 1969.
Around 1945, after World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, Leggat shaped the Environmental Conservation
Conservation Ontario
Conservation Ontario is the umbrella organization which represents all of the conservation authorities in Ontario. This nonprofit organization was founded in 1980/81...
movement in 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....
by spearheading the Guelph Conference, the Ganaraska Study and the Conservation Authorities Act of Ontario
Conservation Authorities Act
The Conservation Authorities Act was created by the Ontario Provincial Legislature in 1946 to ensure the conservation, restoration and responsible management of water, land and natural habitat through programs that balance human, environmental and economic needs. The act authorizes the formation of...
(1946).
He was the founding President of the Canadian Academy of Engineering
Canadian Academy of Engineering
The Canadian Academy of Engineering is a national academy of distinguished professional engineers in all fields of engineering, who are elected on the basis of "their distinguished service and contribution to society, to the country and to the profession."The Academy was founded in 1987...
.
Between 1959 and 1960, Legget was the Chairman of the Engineering Geology Division of the Geological Society of America
Geological Society of America
The Geological Society of America is a nonprofit organization dedicated to the advancement of the geosciences. The society was founded in New York in 1888 by Alexander Winchell, John J. Stevenson, Charles H. Hitchcock, John R. Proctor and Edward Orton and has been headquartered at 3300 Penrose...
.
Philanthropy
The Legget Endowment Fund is used by the Conservation Foundation on an annual basis for otherwise-unfunded current needs in the Rideau Valley.Publications
- Editor of Soils in Canada
- General editor of the Canadian Building Series, published by University of Toronto Press
- Rideau Waterway (1955), (revised 1972) – history of the Rideau CanalRideau CanalThe Rideau Canal , also known as the Rideau Waterway, connects the city of Ottawa, Ontario, Canada on the Ottawa River to the city of Kingston, Ontario on Lake Ontario. The canal was opened in 1832 as a precaution in case of war with the United States and is still in use today, with most of its...
- Ottawa Waterway, Gateway to a Continent (1975)
- Canals of Canada (1975)
- Glacial Till (1976)
- Handbook of Geology in Civil Engineering (1983) with P.F. Karrow
Honours and awards
- Recognized by 13 honorary degrees including;
- 1963, an honorary Doctorate of Science by the University of WaterlooUniversity of WaterlooThe University of Waterloo is a comprehensive public university in the city of Waterloo, Ontario, Canada. The school was founded in 1957 by Drs. Gerry Hagey and Ira G. Needles, and has since grown to an institution of more than 30,000 students, faculty, and staff...
- 1969, an honorary Doctorate of Science by the University of Western OntarioUniversity of Western OntarioThe University of Western Ontario is a public research university located in London, Ontario, Canada. The university's main campus covers of land, with the Thames River cutting through the eastern portion of the main campus. Western administers its programs through 12 different faculties and...
- 1971, an honorary Doctorate of Engineering by the University of Liverpool
- 1963, an honorary Doctorate of Science by the University of Waterloo
- Honours
- made an honorary member of the American Underground Construction Association
- received the Royal Bank Award
- made an Honorary Life Member of the Rideau Valley Conservation Authority
- the Canadian Geotechnical Society awards the R.F. Legget Medal as its highest honour
- 1967, invested as an Officer of the Order of Canada
- 1989, promoted to Companion of the Order of Canada
- Awards
- 1972, awarded the Logan MedalLogan MedalThe Logan Medal is the highest award of the Geological Association of Canada. Named after Sir William Edmond Logan, noted 19th century Canadian geologist. It is presented annually to an individual for sustained distinguished achievement in Canadian earth science.-References:*...
by the Geological Association of CanadaGeological Association of CanadaThe Geological Association of Canada promotes and develops the geological sciences in Canada. The organization holds conferences, meetings and exhibitions for the discussion of geological problems and the exchange of views in matters related to geology... - 1974, awarded the Claire P. Holdredge Award by Association of Environmental and Engineering Geologists
- 1977, awarded the William Smith MedalWilliam Smith MedalThe William Smith Medal is a medal of the Geological Society of London, awarded for outstanding research in applied or economic geology. It was first awarded in 1977...
by the Geological Society of LondonGeological Society of LondonThe Geological Society of London is a learned society based in the United Kingdom with the aim of "investigating the mineral structure of the Earth"...
- 1972, awarded the Logan Medal
External links
- The Canadian Encyclopedia
- Robert F. Legget Endowment Fund
- Heritage of Engineering Geology Division, Geological Society of America 1940s to 1990
- Claire P. Holdredge Award
- AUA Honorary Members
- Canadian General Standards Board 1934-1999
- Earth Science in the City: A Reader
- Rideau Waterway (Paperback)
- University of Waterloo Honorary degrees
- University of Western Ontario Honorary degrees