Background
Kingman was born in Dover, New Hampshire on March 6, 1852.
Kingman was born in Dover, New Hampshire on March 6, 1852.
Entering the United States Military Academy, Kingman graduated second in the class of 1875 and was commissioned in the Corps of Engineers.
He served as an instructor at the Military Academy and as the engineer officer of the Army"s Department of the Platte based at Fort Omaha. In 1883, he began the construction of roads and bridges in the new Yellowstone National Park. Kingman Pass on the Grand Loop Road between Mammoth Hot Springs and Norris is named for him.
Kingman directed improvements along the lower Mississippi River in 1886-1890 and received the thanks of the Louisiana legislature for "splendid service rendered" during the 1890 flood.
He oversaw harbor and fortification work on Lake Ontario in 1891-1895 and improvements on the Tennessee River in the last half of that decade. In the latter assignment he initiated planning for federal cost-sharing with private hydroelectric-power investors for a lock and dam built below Chattanooga.
Kingman oversaw substantial harbor improvements at Cleveland in 1901-1905 and headed the Corps" Savannah District and Southeast Division in 1906-1913. The Panama Canal was completed while he was Chief of Engineers.
He retired from the army on March 6, 1916.
Kingman died November 14, 1916, in Atlantic City, New Jersey. He was buried with high military honors in Arlington National Cemetery.