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John Kennedy

1838 – 1921

Canadian civil engineer, born 1838

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About John Kennedy

Lived 1838 – 1921 (aged 83). John Kennedy was a Canadian civil engineer and engineer.

Sir John Kennedy (26 September 1838 – 25 October 1921) was a Canadian civil engineer.

He was born at Spencerville, Upper Canada, and was educated at McGill University. In 1863 he was appointed assistant city engineer of Montreal, Quebec. In 1871 he became division engineer, and later chief engineer of the Great Western System of Canada. In 1875-1907 he was chief engineer of the Montreal harbour commission. He deepened the ship canal between Montreal and Quebec from 20 to 27½ feet (6.1 to 8.4 m) and designed and carried out all the improvements in Montreal harbor during 32 years. He was a member of several royal commissions for engineering purposes connected with the Lachine Canal, the causes of floods at Montreal, and the completion of the Trent Valley Canal system.

He was made a Knight Bachelor in 1916.

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Important facts

Birth century
Nationality
Education
McGill University
Awards
Knight Bachelor; Person of National Historic Significance
Also known as
Sir John Kennedy

People in John Kennedy's life

Named in this biography and alive at the same time

Contemporaries

People whose lives overlapped John Kennedy's

Frequently asked questions

Who was John Kennedy?

Canadian civil engineer, born 1838

When was John Kennedy born?

John Kennedy was born on 26 September 1838 in Spencerville.

When did John Kennedy die?

John Kennedy died on 25 October 1921.

What was John Kennedy's occupation?

John Kennedy was a civil engineer and engineer.

What nationality was John Kennedy?

John Kennedy was Canadian.

Sources & further reading

· Wikipedia: John Kennedy

· Wikidata: Q6242857

· DBpedia: John Kennedy (engineer)

Cite this page

APA: Biography.guide. (2026). John Kennedy. https://biography.guide/john-kennedy-civil-engineer/

MLA: "John Kennedy." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/john-kennedy-civil-engineer/.

Chicago: "John Kennedy." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/john-kennedy-civil-engineer/.

Data last updated: 2026-09-21 · Spot an error? Report a correction.

Portrait: Wikimedia Commons · author & licence

Page generated 2026-09-27 05:00 UTC