Sandford Fleming

Sandford Fleming was a Canadian engineer and inventor who performed pioneering experiments in radio and sonar. He was born in Kirkcaldy, Scotland, on January 7, 1827, to Andrew and Elizabeth Fleming. He emigrated to Canada in 1845, where he was trained as an engineer. He designed Canada's first postage stamp, the Threepenny Beaver, in 1851. He also worked as a surveyor and a map maker, and contributed to the exploration and development of Canada's vast territory. Fleming's most important contribution was his invention of the system of standard time and time zones, which solved the problem of keeping accurate time across different regions and countries. He proposed the idea of dividing the world into 24 equal time zones, each one hour apart, and using a single prime meridian as the reference point. He also advocated the use of the 24-hour clock instead of the 12-hour clock. He organized the International Prime Meridian Conference in Washington, D.C., in 1884, where his system was adopted by most of the world. He also designed the first official time signal in Canada, which was transmitted by telegraph from the Dominion Observatory in Ottawa every day at noon. ¹ Fleming was also a leading figure in the construction of Canada's railways, which connected the country from coast to coast. He was the chief engineer of the Intercolonial Railway, which linked Quebec City and Halifax, and the engineer-in-chief of the Canadian Pacific Railway, which spanned from Montreal to Vancouver. He surveyed and planned the routes for both railways, and supervised the building of bridges, tunnels, and stations. He also advocated for the safety and efficiency of the railways, and introduced innovations such as iron bridges, steel rails, and electric signals. He was also involved in other railway projects around the world, such as the Cape to Cairo Railway in Africa, and the Australian Transcontinental Railway. ¹ Fleming was also a man of science and culture, who supported various institutions and causes. He was a founding member of the Royal Society of Canada, and served as its president from 1888 to 1890. He was also the chancellor of Queen's University in Kingston, Ontario, from 1880 to 1915. He donated his personal library and art collection to the university, and established scholarships and prizes for students. He was also a patron of the arts, and wrote poetry and essays. He was knighted by Queen Victoria in 1897, and received many honorary degrees and awards for his achievements. ¹ Fleming died in Halifax, Nova Scotia, on July 22, 1915, at the age of 88. He was buried in Beechwood Cemetery in Ottawa. He is widely regarded as one of Canada's greatest engineers and inventors, and his name is commemorated in many places, such as the Fleming Park in Halifax, the Fleming College in Peterborough, Ontario, and the Fleming Medal and Citation of the Royal Canadian Institute. ¹