Edson Joseph Chamberlin

Edson Joseph Chamberlin (August 25, 1852 – August 27, 1924) was the president of the Grand Trunk Railway from 1912 to 1917.

Biography

He was born in Lancaster, New Hampshire, on August 25, 1852. He attended Montpelier Methodist Seminary, and in 1871 started work with the New England Railroad. In 1886, he became the general manager of the Canada Atlantic Railway, and in 1909 he was the general manager and then the vice president of the Grand Trunk Railway. In 1912 he became the president of the Grand Trunk Railway when Charles Melville Hays lost his life on the RMS Titanic.[1] Chamberlin's presidency differed from Hays' in that he led the Grand Trunk to expand westward as part of the Canadian transcontinental railway rather than continuing investment in the Central Vermont Railway and connections with New England.[2]

He remained president until he retired in 1917. Chamberlin was succeeded as president of Grand Trunk Railway by Howard G. Kelley.[3][4] Chamberlin died at Pasadena, California, on August 27, 1924.[5]

The town of Edson, Alberta, was named in his honour.[6]

References

  1. ^ "Becomes the Head of Grand Trunk RR. Vice President of Pacific Line Succeeds Late C.M. Hays. He Is New Englander, Born at Lancaster, N H.". Boston Globe. May 25, 1912. The announcement was made today that Edson Joseph Chamberlin, vice president of the Grand Trunk Pacific Railway, has been appointed to succeed Charles M. Hays, who lost his life in the Titanic...
  2. ^ "Edson J. Chamberlin". Railway Age Gazette. 63 (10): 419. September 17, 1917. Retrieved July 6, 2014.
  3. ^ "Personals". The Railway Review. 71 (9). Chicago, IL: 295. August 26, 1922.
  4. ^ "Howard G. Kelley". Railway Age Gazette. 63 (10): 417. September 17, 1917. Retrieved July 6, 2014.
  5. ^ The Encyclopedia of Canada. 1948.
  6. ^ The Canadian Encyclopedia. "Edson". Archived from the original on June 8, 2011. Retrieved November 7, 2009.
Business positions
Preceded by President of the Grand Trunk Railway
1912-1917 		Succeeded by