SIR SANFORD FLEMING
1827 - 1915

Father of Standard Time

Sir Sandford Fleming was born January 7, 1827 in Kirkaldy, Fife. At the age of 18, following his education as a surveyor and draftsman he emigrated to Ontario settling in Toronto. It is reported that his transatlantic voyage was so rough he and his brother wrote a farwell letter to their parents, enclosed it in a bottle, and tossed it overboard.

Sir Sanford drew the first maps of the Ontario cities of Peterborough, Cobourg, Newcastle, and Colborne. His greatest achievement as a surveyor was his work on the building of the Canadian Pacific Railway.

Sir Sanford Fleming is most remembered for his establishment of the Standard Time System. He developed the idea of dividing the world into twenty-four zones of 16 degrees of longitude with the clocks in each zone all showing the same time. For his work in this field he received his knighthood.

In addition to this major accomplishment he also founded the Royal Canadian Institute, designed the first Canadian Postage Stamp, and served for thirty-five years as the Chancellor of Queen's University.