Born on 28 January 1926, in Southport, England, he graduated from Cambridge University (Gonville & Caius College), and then served for two years as a lieutenant in the Royal Navy. His doctorate and Doctor of Science were then from London University.
He was successively Director of Studies in Engineering at Magdalene College, Cambridge, United Kingdom. Regius Professor of Engineering at Edinburgh University (1963), United Kingdom. Professor of Civil Engineering and Applied Mechanics at McGill University, Canada.
Dean of the Faculty of Engineering at the University of New Brunswick, Canada. Vice President (Academic) at Acadia University, Canada. And Vice President (Research) at the Technical University of Nova Scotia, Canada.
A specialist in advanced structural analysis, with expertise in earthquake engineering and highway bridges, Jaeger was Technical Editor of the Ontario Highway Bridge Design Code, and its successor the Canadian Highway Bridge Design Code, since 1977.
He served the Canadian Society for Civil Engineering (Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe) in a number of capacities, and was its President from 1992-1993. Jaeger authored or co-authored nine books and published extensively in the technical literature.
He served the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council) in a number of capacities over the years, latterly as Chair of the Cooperative Research Opportunities Committee. He held Honorary Doctorates in Engineering from Carleton University, Memorial University of Newfoundland and the Technical University of Nova Scotia.
Other awards included the Gzowski Medal of the Engineering Institute of Canada (EIC), the Pratley Award of Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe, the A B Sanderson Award of Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe, the Julian C Smith Medal of EIC, the Association of Professional Engineers of Nova Scotia Award for distinction in Engineering, the Nova Award for Innovation, the Lieutenant Governor of Nova Scotia Award for Excellence in Engineering, and the Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe Award for Outstanding Contributions to Bridge Engineering.
He was an Honorary Professor of Civil Engineering at Tongji University, Shanghai and Honorary President of the Usman Institute of Technology, Karachi. In 1966 Jaeger was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh (FRSE). Subsequently he was elected Fellow of the Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe, the EIC and the Canadian Academy of Engineering.
He was a Former Fellow of the Institution of Civil Engineers (London).
Leslie Jaeger ended his career as Emeritus Research Professor of Civil Engineering and Engineering Mathematics at Dalhousie University, Canada.
