Biography
William Cumberland was born in London, England in 1821, and grew up in Rathmines, Dublin, where his father was employed at Dublin Castle. His mother died there. The family returned to London in the mid-1830s, and he studied at King's College School and apprenticed as a civil engineer. Starting in 1843, he was employed with the engineering department of the British Admiralty, working on the construction of dry docks and fortifications. In 1845, he married Wilmot Mary Bramley, whose sisters had married prominent men in the city of Toronto, and he came to that city with his wife in 1847.
He worked there as a surveyor and as engineer for the united counties of York and Peel. In partnership with Thomas Ridout, he designed Cathedral Church of St. James (Toronto) and School, the York County Court House and a Post Office.
Later, with William George Storm, he designed other important public buildings in the city. At the University of Toronto, he designed University College, Provincial Magnetic Observatory (1853–55); Director's Residence, 1858 which was demolished in 1901; and major additions and reconstruction of the Centre Block, 1856-59 of Osgoode Hall law courts.
He designed residences for important people living in the city. He designed the Queen Street Wesleyan Chapel, 1856 which was demolished c. 1980. He also built several public buildings at Hamilton.
During the 1850s, Cumberland became involved in railway management at the Ontario, Simcoe and Huron Railroad Union Company, later the Northern Railway Company, and other railway and related companies of the time. From 1868 Cumberland served as a director of the Rama Timber Transport Company. As was common at the time, he used railway money to gain the support of Members of Parliament and to help elect candidates favourable to their cause. After Cumberland's death, the Northern Railway Company was absorbed by the Grand Trunk Railway. He was also director at a number of banks and a member of the Toronto Board of Education. He also helped establish a new battalion in the local militia during the 1860s. He was a member of the senate of the University of Toronto. He was a freemason, becoming deputy grand master for the Toronto district.
He died in Toronto in 1881.
Read more about this topic: Frederick William Cumberland
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