Frederick William Cumberland


Frederick William Cumberland was a Canadian engineer, architect and political figure. He represented the riding of Algoma in the 1st and 2nd Ontario Parliaments and in the House of Commons of Canada from 1871 to 1872.

Biography

William Cumberland was born in London, England in 1821, and grew up in Rathmines, Dublin, where his father was employed at Dublin Castle. His mother died there. The family returned to London in the mid-1830s, and he studied at King's College School and apprenticed as a civil engineer. Starting in 1843, he was employed with the engineering department of the British Admiralty, working on the construction of dry docks and fortifications. In 1845, he married Wilmot Mary Bramley, whose sisters had married prominent men in the city of Toronto, and he came to that city with his wife in 1847.
He worked there as a surveyor and as engineer for the united counties of York and Peel. In partnership with Thomas Ridout, he designed Cathedral Church of St. James and School, the York County Court House and a post office.
Later, with William George Storm, he designed other important public buildings in the city. At the University of Toronto, he designed University College, Provincial Magnetic Observatory ; Director's Residence, 1858 which was demolished in 1901; and major additions and reconstruction of the Centre Block, 1856-59 of Osgoode Hall law courts.
He designed residences for important people living in the city. He designed the Queen Street Wesleyan Chapel, 1856 which was demolished c. 1980. He also built several public buildings at Hamilton.
During the 1850s, Cumberland became involved in railway management at the Ontario, Simcoe and Huron Railroad Union Company, later the Northern Railway Company, and other railway and related companies of the time. From 1868 Cumberland served as a director of the Rama Timber Transport Company. As was common at the time, he used railway money to gain the support of Members of Parliament and to help elect candidates favourable to their cause. After Cumberland's death, the Northern Railway Company was absorbed by the Grand Trunk Railway. He was also director at a number of banks and a member of the Toronto Board of Education. He also helped establish a new battalion in the local militia during the 1860s. He was a member of the senate of the University of Toronto. He was a freemason, becoming deputy grand master for the Toronto district.
He died in Toronto in 1881.

Works


BuildingYear CompletedBuilderStyleSourceLocationImage
Ryerson University, then Toronto Normal School1852Frederick Cumberland and Thomas Ridout Gothic Revival architecture Romanesque3St James Square, bounded by Gerrard, Church, Younge and Gould, Toronto, Ontario
Consumers' Gas Building1852Frederick Cumberland and Thomas Ridout Neo-Renaissance Revival3Toronto Street, Toronto, Ontario
Adelaide Street Court House1852Frederick Cumberland and Thomas Ridout Greek Revival architecture357 Adelaide Street East, Toronto, Ontario
Toronto Street Post Office1853Frederick Cumberland and Thomas Ridout Greek Revival architecture2, 310 Toronto Street, Toronto, Ontario
Cathedral Church of St. James1853Frederick Cumberland and Thomas Ridout Gothic Revival architectureKing and Church Streets, Toronto, Ontario
Louis B. Stewart Observatory/Toronto Magnetic and Meteorological Observatory1853–1857Frederick William Cumberland and William George StormGothic Revival architectureW, 1512 Hart House Circle - University of Toronto, Kings College Circle, Toronto, Ontario
Former Upper Canada College campus ; additions to Resident School House, 1856; new Porter's Lodge, Bursar's Office, gates, fences and outbuildings 1854-7Frederick William Cumberland and William George StormGothic Revival architectureKing and Simcoe Streets in downtown Toronto
University College, University of Toronto1856–1859Frederick William Cumberland and William George Storm; David Dick Norman Romanesque1515 King's College Circle, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario
University College, University of Toronto Croft House1859Frederick William Cumberland William George Storm;Norman Romanesque2Kings College Circle, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario
Chapel of St. James-the-Less, St. James Cemetery 1860Frederick William Cumberland and William George Storm Romanesque2Parliament Street, Toronto, Ontario