Duncan Macpherson
Duncan Macpherson (1858- )
1922 Lieut.-Colonel, M. Inst.C.E., M.E.I.C. Dom. and Ontario Land Surveyor, 548, Besserer Street, Ottawa, Canada; b. 1858; s. of Peter MacPherson of Bath, Ontario. Loyalist descent; m. in 1887, E. R. O. Wilson, d. of the Rev. John Wilson of Preston, Lancashire. Ed. Napance High School and Royal Military College, Kingston, Ontario. Graduated from Royal Military College in June, 1880, with honours in Civil Engineering and Mathematics, and won the Governor-General's Silver Medal for general proficiency. Was offered and refused a commission in the Royal Engineers. In 1881 joined the engineering staff of Canadian Pacific Railway, on construction, and served with that company till July, 1905, being then Chief Directing Engineer of 1,500 miles of railway with supervision of maintenance of track, buildings and bridges. Resigned to accept position of Assistant Chief Engineer of the National Transcontinental Railway, 1,805 miles of line between Winnipeg and Atlantic Coast, forming the Eastern half of the Grand Trunk Pacific and built by the Canadian Government. In 1911 was promoted to be Assistant Chairman in charge of operations on this line, and occupied this position till the completion of the work in 1914. In August, 1914, volunteered for active service and was appointed Staff Officer at Headquarters with rank of Lieut.-Colonel, position occupied till end of War. One year Vice-President, and 16 years Councillor, of Engineering Institute of Canada. Member of the Rideau Ottawa and Royal Ottawa Golf Club. War Services.—Five years Staff Officer at Headquarters, C. E. F.