Background
James Laurie was born at Bells Quarry, near Edinburgh, Scotland.
James Laurie was born at Bells Quarry, near Edinburgh, Scotland.
At an early age Laurie was apprenticed to a maker of mathematical and engineering instruments in his native city, with whom he remained until about 1832. He then worked for a year in the office of a civil engineer, and while thus employed became acquainted with James P. Kirkwood, whom he accompanied to Massachusetts when Kirkwood was called to the position of chief engineer of construction of the Norwich & Worcester Railroad.
Laurie obtained appointment as an associate engineer with the same company and in 1835 succeeded Kirkwood as chief engineer and superintendent of construction. Upon the completion of the road, he engaged in general practice, advising railroads and canal companies on locations and directing surveys for water power and harbor developments. In July 1848 he was one of the group of engineers that founded the Boston Society of Civil Engineers.
He moved his office to New York City in 1852 and in October of that year sent out letters, signed by himself and two others, inviting all engineers in the neighborhood to attend a meeting to organize a society of civil engineers in the city of New York. At this gathering. November 5, 1852, the American Society of Civil Engineers was formed, with Laurie as its first president. At the first regular meeting he presented a paper, "The Relief of Broadway, " proposing the use of elevated railway tracks, the discussion of which was continued in the next meeting. Interest in the Society soon flagged, however, and it did not meet during the twelve years following 1855. Laurie retained his title of president during this time, and finally called a meeting, October 12, 1867, at which the Society was revived, a new president was elected, and a resolution was adopted thanking Laurie for his efforts to reëstablish the organization.
In 1855 and 1856 he was employed by the State of New York to examine railroad bridges, and in 1858 he was engaged by the government of Nova Scotia to examine and report fully on the condition of the Nova Scotia Railroad, particularly in regard to the cost of construction and operation. He then served two years as chief engineer of that road.
Subsequently, he reported on the condition of the Troy & Greenfield Railroad for the State of Massachusetts and was employed for several years by that state as its consultant on the Hoosac Tunnel. He was at the same time chief engineer of the New Haven, Hartford & Springfield Railroad, and designed and built its bridge across the Connecticut River at Warehouse Point. By this time he had accumulated considerable property and thenceforth, except for one or two examinations of engineering structures, he lived in retirement at Hartford until his death. He never married.