Casimir Gzowski
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Kazimierz_Gzowski.jpg
The Honourable Sir Kazimierz Stanisław Gzowski (March 5, 1813 – August 24, 1898), was an engineer who served as acting Lieutenant Governor of Ontario from 1896 to 1897.
Gzowski was born in St. Petersburg to a noble Polish father who served with the Russian military.
He emigrated with his family to the United States after the Polish revolt against Russia in 1830. Trained as an engineer, he was involved in railway construction in the United States. Eventually he was hired as an engineer to help in the construction of the New York and Erie Railway.
In 1841 he moved to Canada to work on the Welland Canal, and also helped finish the building of Yonge Street in southern Ontario. In 1853 he also helped build the Grand Trunk Railway. As president of the Toronto Turf Club, in 1859 he was a prime factor in the creation of the Queen's Plate, the first organized thoroughbred horse race in North America. Sir Casimir was instrumental in organizing the Canadian Society of Civil Engineers. He was its president from 1889 - 1891. He was also the first Commissioner of the Niagara Parks Commission.
He was knighted by Queen Victoria in 1890, and briefly served as Lieutenant Governor before Oliver Mowat took office in 1897.
Casimir Gzowski was the great-grandfather of CBC radio personality Peter Gzowski.
External links
- Biography at the Dictionary of Canadian Biography Online (http://www.biographi.ca/EN/ShowBio.asp?BioId=40257)
| Preceded by: Sir George Airey Kirkpatrick | Lieutenant Governor of Ontario 1896–1897 | Succeeded by: Sir Oliver Mowat |