About William Pitt
Lived 1840 – 1909 (aged 68). William Pitt was an engineer.
Captain William Abraham Pitt (29 November 1841 – 12 September 1909) was a Canadian ferryman from the Kingston Peninsula of New Brunswick. He was from Reed's Point, Kings County, New Brunswick, and for over thirty years he operated a small sail and oars scow ferry connecting the Kingston Peninsula with the Kennebecasis Valley.
Pitt was the inventor of the underwater cable ferry. His new invention was installed across the Kennebecasis River between Reed's Point and Gondola Point in 1903. Believing that the cable required to operate his new ferry was too heavy and bulky, Pitt decided to lay the cable out during the winter. He ran the ferry cable across the river allowing it to sink into place with the spring thaw. By the middle of the 20th century, New Brunswick's road network improved and cable ferries built to carry passengers and vehicles could be found in many river communities.
Pitt later died from serious injuries after falling into the machinery of his ferry. One of the two cable ferries currently operating at Gondola Point is named the "William Pitt II" in his honour.
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Important facts
People in William Pitt's life
Named in this biography and alive at the same time
Contemporaries
People whose lives overlapped William Pitt's
Frequently asked questions
Who was William Pitt?
Canadian ferryman
When was William Pitt born?
William Pitt was born on 29 November 1840.
When did William Pitt die?
William Pitt died on 12 September 1909.
What was William Pitt's occupation?
William Pitt was an engineer.
Sources & further reading
· DBpedia: William Pitt (engineer)
Cite this page
APA: Biography.guide. (2026). William Pitt. https://biography.guide/william-pitt-engineer/
MLA: "William Pitt." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/william-pitt-engineer/.
Chicago: "William Pitt." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/william-pitt-engineer/.
Data last updated: 2026-09-20 · Spot an error? Report a correction.
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