Henry Ramsay (May 18, 1808, in Guilderland, Albany County, New York – July 12, 1886, in Schenectady, New York) was an American civil engineer and for a short time New York State Engineer and Surveyor in 1853.

Quick Facts Born, Died ...
Henry Ramsay
Born(1808-05-18)May 18, 1808
DiedJuly 12, 1886(1886-07-12) (aged 78)
EducationThe Albany Academy (1926)
TitleNew York State Engineer and Surveyor
Term1853
Spouse
Isabelle Westervelt
(m. 18311886)
Close

Life

He was born on May 18, 1808, the son of Frederick Ramsay and Belle (Quackenbush) Ramsay.[1][2]

He was educated at the Lancaster School in Albany, and graduated from The Albany Academy in 1826. Afterwards he taught school in Albany, New York. Later he became a draftsman, cartographer and civil engineer.[2] In 1831, he married Isabelle Westervelt, and they had nine children.[1]

In 1842, he was appointed Chief Engineer of the Mohawk and Hudson Railroad between Albany and Schenectady, New York. He laid out the course of the New York Central Railroad at Schenectady, to avoid the inclined plane at that terminus. Subsequently, he became Assistant Engineer on the Erie Canal enlargement. In 1849, he moved to Schenectady, and was for several terms City Surveyor.[2]

On December 10, 1853, he was appointed New York State Engineer and Surveyor, to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of William J. McAlpine, after Wheeler H. Bristol declined to take office.

He died on July 12, 1886, in Schenectady, New York.[1][2]

Legacy

He endowed the Henry Ramsay Scholarship at The Albany Academy.

Sources

Wikiwand in your browser!

Seamless Wikipedia browsing. On steroids.

Every time you click a link to Wikipedia, Wiktionary or Wikiquote in your browser's search results, it will show the modern Wikiwand interface.

Wikiwand extension is a five stars, simple, with minimum permission required to keep your browsing private, safe and transparent.