John N. Kirby

John N. Kirby is the son of Capt. John and Mary Kirby, and was born December 10, 1867, at Cleveland, Ohio. He attended the public schools of Cleveland, also going through the high school.

In 1885 he entered the employ of the Globe Iron Works Company to learn the machinist's trade, and remained full four years - thoroughly learning that handicraft, as will be noted by his rapid advancement. In the spring of 1889 he shipped as oiler on the steamer Northern Queen, when she came out new, finishing the season on the Caledonia. In 1890 he came out with the new steamer LaSalle, of the Lake Superior Iron Company line, and in June obtained his first license as first assistant engineer, and shipped on the steamer Niko in that berth, finishing the season on the Charlemagne Tower. In 1891 he shipped as second engineer of the steamer Sitka, finishing the season on the Vulcan. In 1892 he went as first assistant on the steamer William Chisholm, remaining one season. In the spring of 1893 he entered the employ of the Bradley line, and came out first assistant on the new steel steamer Alva, remaining the full season. In 1894 he received an appointment as chief engineer of the Gladstone, of the same line, remaining in charge of her machinery two seasons. He was then appointed chief of the Alva, which steamer he had laid up at the close of navigation in 1897, at Buffalo.

In the winter of 1890, Mr. Kirby joined the Marine Engineers Beneficial Association at Cleveland, and in 1891 he was elected corresponding secretary, holding the position three years, when he was elected vice president. In 1895 he was chosen president of the association, which office he has held for three years. He is a Royal Arch Mason and member of the Royal Arcanum.

In January, 1898, Mr. Kirby was married to Miss Jeannette Poole, of Gambier, Ohio, and lives at 206 Franklin avenue, Cleveland, Ohio.

Return to Home Port

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.