H. H. Couzens
Encyclopedia
Sir Herbert Henry Couzens KBE
(1877-November 17, 1944) was a British electrical engineering executive who managed public utilities in England, Canada, and Brazil
.
in London, England when he was recruited in 1913 to head the new Toronto Hydro Electric Commission
in Toronto
, Ontario
, Canada. He was instrumental in guiding the early development and expansion of the publicly owned electric network in Toronto.
Seven years later, in September 1920, he also became the first General Manager of the Toronto Transportation Commission
(TTC), which had been established earlier that year to take over several privately and publicly owned street railway operations. He managed the integration of the different streetcar networks into one unified system, and oversaw the extensive rebuilding and reequipping of the TTC that took place throughout the early 1920s.
a Canadian-owned utility based in Brazil, with extensive holdings in South America, and later became vice-president of the company. In 1937 he moved to England to work for the firm, and was knighted that same year. He returned to Canada in 1941 as president of the company.
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
(1877-November 17, 1944) was a British electrical engineering executive who managed public utilities in England, Canada, and Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
.
Career
Couzens was an electrical engineer for West HamWest Ham
West Ham is in the London Borough of Newham in London, England. In the west it is a post-industrial neighbourhood abutting the site of the London Olympic Park and in the east it is mostly residential, consisting of Victorian terraced housing interspersed with higher density post-War social housing...
in London, England when he was recruited in 1913 to head the new Toronto Hydro Electric Commission
Toronto Hydro
The Toronto Hydro-Electric System is the local distributor of electric power in the City of Toronto. In 2005 the utility served a peak load of over 5,000 MW and had nearly 600,000 residential and 70,000 commercial and industrial customers, and had around 1,600 employees. In 2005 the corporation...
in Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
, Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
, Canada. He was instrumental in guiding the early development and expansion of the publicly owned electric network in Toronto.
Seven years later, in September 1920, he also became the first General Manager of the Toronto Transportation Commission
Toronto Transportation Commission
Before 1954, the Toronto Transit Commission was called the Toronto Transportation Commission.-History:Toronto's first public transportation company was the Williams Omnibus Bus Line and owned by undertaker Burt Williams. The franchise carried passengers in horse-drawn stagecoaches along Yonge...
(TTC), which had been established earlier that year to take over several privately and publicly owned street railway operations. He managed the integration of the different streetcar networks into one unified system, and oversaw the extensive rebuilding and reequipping of the TTC that took place throughout the early 1920s.
Job change
Couzens resigned his positions as general manager of Toronto Hydro and of the TTC in 1924, and joined the Brazilian Traction, Light and Power Co.Brookfield Asset Management
Brookfield Asset Management Inc. is a Toronto, Ontario-based asset management company that manages a global portfolio of assets valued at over $150 billion...
a Canadian-owned utility based in Brazil, with extensive holdings in South America, and later became vice-president of the company. In 1937 he moved to England to work for the firm, and was knighted that same year. He returned to Canada in 1941 as president of the company.