Sir Sandford
Fleming, ca. 1894, by John Wycliffe Lowes Forster (1850-1938)
What is Sir Sandford
Fleming (1827-1915) best remembered for? If you said his strong advocacy of the system of
standard time, you are right. Born in Scotland, he immigrated to Canada in 1845 and was
one of this country’s greatest engineers: he was heavily involved in the construction
of the Intercolonial and Canadian Pacific railways. He also designed Canada’s first
adhesive postage stamp, the "Three Pence Beaver," which was issued in 1851.
Fleming undertook
many trips abroad in the interest of furthering Canada’s contribution to a more
united British Empire, and in promoting a Pacific cable communications link.
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