John Edward Boyd
John Edward Boyd (c1835-c1886)
1887 Obituary [1]
JOHN EDWARD BOYD, son of the late Dr. John Boyd, a wellknown medical man of the city of St. John, New Brunswick, was born about the year 1835.
After completing his school education he studied civil engineering, and on his admission to practice, rapidly rose in the profession.
In 1866 he entered the service of the Government of New Brunswick, in connection with the construction of the railway between St. John and Shedrac, now a portion of the International Railway, remaining until 1861, and then, after the road had been put in operation, he became Resident Engineer in charge.
In 1866 he was appointed Provincial Engineer in charge of railways in course of construction in New Brunswick, as Chief Engineer and Superintendent of Provincial Railways, holding that office until his removal to Ottawa, and to a position in the Department of Public Works of Canada. These he retained until 1871, when he was appointed Chief Engineer of Railways in Prince Edward Island, and under his management the whole railway system in that colony was completed.
In 1876 he entered the service of the Province of Quebec as principal assistant engineer in the construction of the North Shore Railway between Montreal and Quebec, after which he, in 1880, again entered the service of the Department of Public Works of Canada, and took charge of works in New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, and Prince Edward Island. Owing to failing health, he was relieved in 1881 and was transferred to Ontario.
In 1883 he was placed in charge, as principal assistant to the Chief Engineer of Public Works of the Dominion, of the graving dock and works in the Harbour of Quebec, the first of which he saw, after many difficulties, brought to a completion. In the discharge of the duties of this position up to &he hour of his death he enjoyed not only the implicit confidence of Sir Hector Langevin, his departmental chief, but the respect and affection of all with whom he was brought into contact. Though of an exceptionally modest and retiring disposition, his acknowledged professional talents and sterling integrity of character made for him many friends, and nowhere more so than in Quebec, where he spent the three last years of his useful and well filled life.
Mr. Boyd was elected a Member of the Institution on the 2nd of April, 186i.