Identity area
Type of entity
Person
Authorized form of name
Kingsford, William
Parallel form(s) of name
Standardized form(s) of name according to other rules
Other form(s) of name
Identifiers for corporate bodies
Description area
Dates of existence
1819-1898
History
William Kingsford was born on December 23, 1819 in London, England to parents William Sr. and Elizabeth. He went to school in Camberwell at the Nicholas Wanostrocht school. Throughout his education, he studied architecture and was eventually articled to an architect. At an age of 16 years, he enlisted with the 1st Dragoon Guards and traveled with them, to Canada (1837) as sergeant. In 1840, he left the regiment to pursue a career with the city of Montreal as a civil engineer and deputy city surveyor. About a decade later, Kingsford became heavily involved in the construction of railroads and canals all over the continent - from New York to Panama to Toronto. After dismissal from his engineering career, he pursed his passion for historical literature further. He was the author of many historical pamphlets and books, but most notably "History of Canada" which was released in 1887. Kingsford married Maria Margaret, the daughter of William Lindsay, clerk of the legislative assembly of Canada. He died on September 29, 1898.