Article

Walter Shanly

Published Online December 18, 2007

Last Edited December 16, 2013

Walter Shanly, civil and consulting engineer and builder (b at Stradbally, Ire 11 Oct 1817; d at Montréal 17 Dec 1899). Encouraged by H.H. KILLALY, he started work in 1840 on canal construction but moved to railways in 1848.

Shanly, Walter

Walter Shanly, civil and consulting engineer and builder (b at Stradbally, Ire 11 Oct 1817; d at Montréal 17 Dec 1899). Encouraged by H.H. KILLALY, he started work in 1840 on canal construction but moved to railways in 1848. With his brother Francis SHANLY, he worked on the Ogdensburg and Lk Champlain Railroad. He then became chief engineer of the Bytown and Prescott Ry. For 4 critical years (1858-62) he was general manager of the GRAND TRUNK RY. After completing the Hoosac Tunnel in Massachusetts with his brother in 1875, he became increasingly famous as a consulting engineer and advised on many major engineering works. In 1863 he was elected to the Legislative Assembly of the Province of Canada and, in 1867, to the House of Commons, where he remained a member until 1891. He was a confidant of Sir John A. MACDONALD, and the last letter written by Macdonald was to Shanly.