Charles MacDonald

(Civil Engineer - Member of the ASCE Investigative Committee)

 

Born: Jan. 26, 1837 in Quananoque, Ontario

Died: July 8, 1928 in Quananoque, Ontario

 

About:

Macdonald was one of the leading bridge engineers from 1867 to 1912. His bridges crossed major rivers of the United States and Australia. He was Chief Engineer for several major bridge companies and finished his career as a member of the Board appointed to select the replacement design for the Quebec Bridge that collapsed under construction in 1907. He was also selected to be one of the investigating engineers sent by the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) to investigate the bridge collapse in Ashtabula, OH. MacDonald was the engineer that discovered a flaw (a large air hole) in one of the angle block casting of this bridge. It was determined that this was the fatal flaw that brought down the Ashtabula Bridge on the night of Dec. 29, 1876.

 

You can read the complete bio of Charles MacDonald in an article for Structure Magazine, written by Dr. Francis E. Griggs Jr.  - Click on the PDF Icon below.