Background
He was born on May 18, 1808, the son of Frederick Ramsay and Belle (Quackenbush) Ramsay.
He was born on May 18, 1808, the son of Frederick Ramsay and Belle (Quackenbush) Ramsay.
He was educated at the Lancaster School in Albany, and graduated from The Albany Academy in 1826.
Afterwards he taught school in Albany, New New York Later he became a draftsman, cartographer and civil engineer In 1842, he was appointed Chief Engineer of the Mohawk and Hudson Railroad between Albany and Schenectady, New New York
He laid out the course of the New York Central Railroad at Schenectady, to avoid the inclined plane at that terminus.
Subsequently he became Assistant Engineer on the Erie Canal enlargement. In 1849, he moved to Schenectady, and was for several terms City Surveyor.
On December 10, 1853, he was appointed New York State Engineer and Surveyor, to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of William J. McAlpine, after Wheeler H. Bristol declined to take office. He died on July 12, 1886 in Schenectady, New New York
He endowed the Henry Ramsay Scholarship at The Albany Academy.