Capt. James McMaugh

Captain James McMaugh of the steamer Algonquin was born in Quebec on March 1, 1842, and came to Toronto with his parents when fourteen years old, moving with them two years later to St. Catharines. His father was employed as foreman blacksmith in the shipyard of the late Louis Shickluna at St. Catharines and there his son began his trade. Later they returned to Toronto, and young McMaugh was apprenticed as a boilermaker in the establishment of the late James Currie, on the Esplanade. He subsequently worked as a blacksmith in St. Catharines, and in 1861 shipped as second engineer on the propeller America. He then secured chief's papers and took charge of the engines of the propeller Enterprise during 1865 and 1866. In 1867 he was engineer on the tug Metamora, and for the next three years he had charge of the America.

In 1871 he had the engines on the propeller Scotia, and in 1872 he commanded the propeller Asia, becoming an employee of the Northwest Transportation Co. In 1880 and 1881 he had the propeller City of St. Catharines, losing her on July 12 by collision. She sank in fifteen minutes. He then took the propeller California and in 1882 had the tug Active. In 1883 he took command of the propeller Ontario, which stranded off Port Elgin in a fog, and had to be scuttled. Two seasons afterward he took command of the propeller Argyle, and in 1885 he sailed the Active again, and from 1886 to 1892 he commanded the Argyle, which had been rebuilt and renamed the Glengarry. In 1893 he took command of the Algonquin and is still in her. Capt. McMaugh has been affiliated with the A. F. and A. M. since 1866.

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