Peter Chalmers Cowan

Peter Chalmers Cowan (20 March 1859 - 9 August 1930) was a British civil engineer particularly associated with projects in Ireland.

Early life and education Chalmers was born on 20 March 1859 in Peters Street, Murraygate, Dundee, Scotland, the son of merchant James Cowan and his wife Mary Ann Chalmers. He attended the High School of Dundee, and was then articled to a civil engineer, Robert Blackadder. He studied under Professor Fleeming Jenkin and later worked for a year as Jenkin’s assistant. He was awarded an honorary Doctorate of Science of the university in 1909. Also in 1884, he was an assistant engineer on the Canadian Pacific Railway, responsible for railway works close to Lake Superior, He was appointed technical advisor to the board and chairman of the Board's Housing Committee, In his 1911 ICEI presidential address he called for protection of the term "engineer", limiting it to qualified persons, saying "There lingers in many influential quarters the idea that the construction and maintenance of roads, and the provision of water supplies, and sewerage schemes can be placed in the hands of uneducated, untrained, and unskilled men".

Personal life On 30 August 1888, he married Marion, daughter of Dr Alexander Johnston, of Westport, County Mayo. Cowan died of a brain haemorrhage at Glendaragh Cottage in Church Road, Fleet, Hampshire on 9 August 1930.