George Herrick Duggan

Duggan, George Herrick

George Herrick Duggan, engineer (b at Toronto 6 Sept 1862; d near St-Jérôme, Qué 8 Oct 1946). He was educated at Upper Canada College and the University of Toronto (DSc). He was an engineer with the CPR (1884-85) and the Dominion Bridge Co (1891-1903), where he was chief engineer and assistant to the president. He was second vice-president and general manager of Dominion Steel and Coal Co (1904-10), and chief engineer (1910-20), general manager (1913-19), president (1919-36) and chairman of the board (1936-46) of Dominion Bridge Co Ltd. He was simultaneously director and chief engineer of the St Lawrence Bridge Co when the QUÉBEC BRIDGE (world's longest cantilever span) was completed in 1917.

In 1920 he organized Dominion Engineering Works Ltd to take over the former St Lawrence Bridge Works to manufacture paper machines and hydraulic turbines. Because of their innovative design and manufacture, these paper machines rapidly achieved record-breaking performance. Another of Duggan's contributions was the application of electric welding of steel members instead of costly riveting and forging. Duggan was an active yachtsman and designed and sailed the Seawanhaka, winner in the International Cup 1896-1901. He was president of the Canadian Society of Civil Engineers and was awarded the Royal Human Society Bronze Medal and Certificate 1893.