Alfred Barrett

Alfred Barrett (died 18 July 1849) was an engineer from New England who worked on canal projects in the United States and Canada (then British North America).

In 1817, Barrett joined the engineering team constructing the Erie Canal in New York State, and by 1821, he had gained enough experience to become an engineer. On 10 May 1826, he was recruited by William Hamilton Merritt to be a resident superintending engineer over the Welland Canal in British North America.

After the banks of the Deep Cut slid into the channel of the Welland Canal in November 1828, Barrett worked with James Geddes to resurvey the canal and redesign the water supply system. The canal was reopened a year later on 30 November 1829. He argued that these improvements would support increased trade from the Great Lakes region and make trade faster and cheaper overall.

Barrett died in Montreal on 18 July 1849 after contracting cholera.