A. J. Cameron

A.J. Cameron is a well-known marine engineer, having spent his entire life in that capacity, gaining a good reputation in that branch of marine industry. He was born August 13, 1841, at Fort William, Scotland, and is the son of John and Jeannette (Cameron) Cameron, both natives of Scotland. John Cameron came to New Brunswick, being a millwright by trade, and was there employed by the British Government in building mills for the use of the emigrants. He lived in that Province for some time, after which he came to Owen Sound, where he died in 1873, being survived by his wife who died in 1876 at the same place.

A.J. Cameron attended school in New Brunswick until his tenth year, when he came with his parents to Glengary, Ontario, and there lived several years. At an early age he entered the shops of Millan & Mills at Montreal, where he served an apprenticeship of four years, afterwards returning there for a considerable time during the winter.

From this firm he went on the ferry City, as engineer, after which he spent two years on the British Queen as second engineer. He then came on the Ottawa two years as chief; the Jennie Lind, two years; New Erie, one year; and the Emily May, three years, coming then on the Frances Smith, owned by Captain Smith, of Owen Sound. He entered the employ of the Water Works Company, at Toronto, at this time, and then acted as engineer five years, going then to Muskoka, Ontario, when he came to the Nipissing, which he ran three years; at Midland, Ontario, he was in charge of the Cook's Lumber Mills for three years, and afterwards came on the Rothesay Castle, running between Toronto and Niagara, and there spent two seasons. The following two years were spent in the Chicora, running on the same route, after which he spent eleven years in the Campana, running from Collingwood to Duluth. Upon leaving this boat he entered the employ of the C.P. Railroad Company, and went on the passenger steamer Alberta, running from Owen Sound to Fort Williams. He then came on the Michigan, where he has remained since 1895. He has increased his store of mechanical knowledge, and at the present time stands high in the estimation of his employers and associates.

On October 1, 1864, he was married to Miss Flora Hay, of Breadalbane, Ontario. They have had two children: Angus, who is an engineer on the Alberta, having filled the position left vacant by his father; and Alice, who is married to Hugh Mann, bookkeeper for the Beatty line at Sarnia.

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Volume I

This version of Volume II is based, with permission, on the work of the great volunteers at the Marine Captains Biographies site. To them goes the credit for reorganizing the content into some coherent order. The biographies in the original volume are in essentially random order.

Some of the transcription work was also done by Brendon Baillod, who maintains an excellent guide to Great Lakes Shipwreck Research.