Tripti Joshi (Editor)

Henry Ramsay (civil engineer)

Updated on
Edit
Like
Comment
Share on FacebookTweet on TwitterShare on LinkedInShare on Reddit
Term
  
1853


Name
  
Henry Ramsay

Born
  
May 18, 1808 (
1808-05-18
)
Guilderland, New York

Died
  
July 12, 1886(1886-07-12) (aged 78) Schenectady, New York

Education
  
The Albany Academy (1926)

Title
  
New York State Engineer and Surveyor

Spouse(s)
  
Isabelle Westervelt (m. 1831–86)

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.

Contents

Life

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

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. In 1831, he married Isabelle Westervelt, and they had nine children.

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.

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.

Legacy

He endowed the Henry Ramsay Scholarship at The Albany Academy.

References

Henry Ramsay (civil engineer) Wikipedia