Frederick William Cumberland

Frederick William Cumberland (April 10 1820 – August 5 1881) was a Canadian engineer, architect and political figure. He represented the riding of Algoma in the 1st and 2nd Ontario Parliaments and in the Canadian House of Commons from 1871 to 1872.

He was born in London, England in 1820, studied at King's College School and apprenticed as a civil engineer. Starting in 1843, he was employed with the engineering department of the British Admiralty, working on the construction of dry docks and fortifications. In 1845, he married Wilmot Mary Bramley, whose sisters had married prominent men in the city of Toronto, and he came to that city with his wife in 1847. He worked there as a surveyor and as engineer for the united counties of York and Peel. In partnership with Thomas Ridout, he designed St James' Cathedral and School, the York County Court House and a Post Office. Later, with William George Storm, he designed other important public buildings in the city, including University College at the University of Toronto and the centre part of Osgoode Hall, as well as residences for important people living in the city. He also built several public buildings at Hamilton.

During the 1850s, he became involved in railway management at the Ontario, Simcoe and Huron Railroad Union Company, later the Northern Railway Company, and other railway and related companies of the time. From 1868 Cumberland served as a director of the Rama Timber Transport Company. As was common at the time, he used railway money to gain the support of Members of Parliament and to help elect candidates favourable to their cause. After Cumberland's death, the Northern Railway Company was absorbed by the Grand Trunk Railway. He was also director at a number of banks and a member of the Toronto Board of Education. He also helped establish a new battalion in the local militia during the 1860s. He was a member of the senate of the University of Toronto. He was a freemason, becoming deputy grand master for the Toronto district.

He died in Toronto in 1881.

ee also

*List of oldest buildings and structures in Toronto

External links

* [http://www.biographi.ca/EN/ShowBio.asp?BioId=39581 Biography at the "Dictionary of Canadian Biography Online"]
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s-ttl|title=Member of Parliament from Algoma
years=1871–1872