The Biographical Dictionary of America/Baird, John

BAIRD, John, constructive engineer, was born in Scotland in 1820. In 1840 he emigrated to Canada and began the study of mechanics; in 1843 he removed to the United States, and settled in Troy, N. Y., as mechanical designer in the Burden iron works, and later was made manager of the shops. In 1850 he became general manager in the Delamater iron works in New York city, and in 1857 the Cromwell steamship company employed him to design iron vessels intended to run between New York and New Orleans. For this company, under Mr. Baird's direction and from his designs, was built the first iron steamship ever launched in America. He remained in the employ of the Cromwell steamship company for twenty years. In 1887 Mr. Baird became vice-president of the Metropolitan elevated railway company of New York, and supervised the construction of the Sixth and Second avenue lines. After the elevated railroads were leased to the Manhattan company, Mr. Baird retired from the vice-presidency, and employed himself in securing patents for his various inventions for engines and boilers. He patented more than thirty such inventions, five of which he perfected within the last two months of his life. He died Oct. 18, 1891.