Robert Oliver Sweezey

Robert Oliver Sweezey

Robert Oliver Sweezey, engineer, promoter (b at Trois-Rivières, Qué 8 Dec 1883; d at Montréal 13 May 1968). Sweezey was the promoter and president of the massive Beauharnois Light, Heat and Power Corp and of other hydroelectric, forestry and transportation endeavours. The Beauharnois project was designed not only to divert and harness the flow of the St Lawrence River, but also as part of the ST LAWRENCE SEAWAY. As an engineering project it was a great success, but Sweezey and other company officials became implicated in a monumental political scandal. As a result the Sweezey interests were removed and control passed to the rival Montreal Light, Heat and Power Consolidated. Thereafter, Sweezey was involved in several mining and power schemes, mainly in western Canada. A graduate of Queen's, Sweezey was an important benefactor, fundraiser and trustee of that institution for many years.