Hamilton Hartley Killaly
Encyclopedia
Hamilton Hartley Killaly (December 1800 – March 28, 1874) was a civil engineer
and political figure in Canada West.
He was born in Dublin, Ireland
in 1800, the son of a prominent engineer, and graduated from Trinity College
. He served with the Board of Works as consulting engineer. In 1834, with his wife, Killaly came to New York
state, later settling in London township
in Upper Canada
. In 1837, he was involved in a re-survey of the Welland Canal
and, in 1838, was appointed engineer for the Welland Canal Company. In 1840, he was appointed chairman of the Board of Works for Lower Canada
. In 1841, he was elected to the Legislative Assembly of the Province of Canada
for London; in March of that year, he was named to the Executive Council
. Later that same year, he was named chairman of the Board of Works for the United Province
. Although highly competent as an engineer, Killaly had little patience for cost estimates or financial reporting. In 1843, he resigned from the Executive Council as part of the mass resignation to protest Governor General Metcalfe's failure to consult them on political appointments. Some concerns had been voiced regarding decisions made by the Board of Works and, in 1846, it was replaced by the Department of Public Works headed by William Benjamin Robinson
. In 1848, Killaly was named superintendent for the Welland Canal. He was named assistant commissioner of public works in 1851 and served until 1859, when this position was abolished and he became inspector of railways. In 1862, he was part of a royal commission that reported on the state of fortifications and defence in the Canadian colonies. Shortly after that, he retired to Picton
, where he lived quietly until his death in 1874.
Civil engineer
A civil engineer is a person who practices civil engineering; the application of planning, designing, constructing, maintaining, and operating infrastructures while protecting the public and environmental health, as well as improving existing infrastructures that have been neglected.Originally, a...
and political figure in Canada West.
He was born in Dublin, Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
in 1800, the son of a prominent engineer, and graduated from Trinity College
Trinity College, Dublin
Trinity College, Dublin , formally known as the College of the Holy and Undivided Trinity of Queen Elizabeth near Dublin, was founded in 1592 by letters patent from Queen Elizabeth I as the "mother of a university", Extracts from Letters Patent of Elizabeth I, 1592: "...we...found and...
. He served with the Board of Works as consulting engineer. In 1834, with his wife, Killaly came to New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
state, later settling in London township
London, Ontario
London is a city in Southwestern Ontario, Canada, situated along the Quebec City – Windsor Corridor. The city has a population of 352,395, and the metropolitan area has a population of 457,720, according to the 2006 Canadian census; the metro population in 2009 was estimated at 489,274. The city...
in Upper Canada
Upper Canada
The Province of Upper Canada was a political division in British Canada established in 1791 by the British Empire to govern the central third of the lands in British North America and to accommodate Loyalist refugees from the United States of America after the American Revolution...
. In 1837, he was involved in a re-survey of the Welland Canal
Welland Canal
The Welland Canal is a ship canal in Canada that extends from Port Weller, Ontario, on Lake Ontario, to Port Colborne, Ontario, on Lake Erie. As a part of the St...
and, in 1838, was appointed engineer for the Welland Canal Company. In 1840, he was appointed chairman of the Board of Works for Lower Canada
Lower Canada
The Province of Lower Canada was a British colony on the lower Saint Lawrence River and the shores of the Gulf of Saint Lawrence...
. In 1841, he was elected to the Legislative Assembly of the Province of Canada
Legislative Assembly of the Province of Canada
The Legislative Assembly of the Province of Canada was the lower house of the legislature for the Province of Canada, which consisted of the former provinces of Lower Canada, then known as Canada East and later the province of Quebec, and Upper Canada, then known as Canada West and later the...
for London; in March of that year, he was named to the Executive Council
Cabinet (government)
A Cabinet is a body of high ranking government officials, typically representing the executive branch. It can also sometimes be referred to as the Council of Ministers, an Executive Council, or an Executive Committee.- Overview :...
. Later that same year, he was named chairman of the Board of Works for the United Province
Province of Canada
The Province of Canada, United Province of Canada, or the United Canadas was a British colony in North America from 1841 to 1867. Its formation reflected recommendations made by John Lambton, 1st Earl of Durham in the Report on the Affairs of British North America following the Rebellions of...
. Although highly competent as an engineer, Killaly had little patience for cost estimates or financial reporting. In 1843, he resigned from the Executive Council as part of the mass resignation to protest Governor General Metcalfe's failure to consult them on political appointments. Some concerns had been voiced regarding decisions made by the Board of Works and, in 1846, it was replaced by the Department of Public Works headed by William Benjamin Robinson
William Benjamin Robinson
William Benjamin Robinson was a fur trader and political figure in Upper Canada.He was born in Kingston in 1797, the son of Christopher Robinson and Esther Sayre, and moved to York with his family in 1798. In 1802, his mother remarried after his father's death and moved to Newmarket, where he...
. In 1848, Killaly was named superintendent for the Welland Canal. He was named assistant commissioner of public works in 1851 and served until 1859, when this position was abolished and he became inspector of railways. In 1862, he was part of a royal commission that reported on the state of fortifications and defence in the Canadian colonies. Shortly after that, he retired to Picton
Picton, Ontario
Picton is an unincorporated community located in Prince Edward County in southern Central Ontario, Canada. It is the county seat and largest community. Picton is located at the south-western end of Picton Bay, a branch of the Bay of Quinte, which is along the northern shoreline of Lake Ontario...
, where he lived quietly until his death in 1874.