Port Hope in Northumberland County, Ontario — Central Canada (North America)

Thomas Curtis Clarke 1827-1901

Photographed by Tim Boyd, June 7, 2025

1. Thomas Curtis Clarke 1827-1901 Marker

Inscription. Click to hear the inscription.

"The world of today differs from that of Napoleon Bonaparte more than his world differed from that of Julius Caesar; and this change has chiefly been made by engineering." These were the words of civil engineer Thomas Clarke, a New Englander who came to Port Hope in 1853 to work for the local railway. He married and raised a family here, and in the 1860s was a partner in a Port Hope firm that constructed the East and West Blocks of the Parliament Buildings in Ottawa. Clarke then moved to the United States where he pioneered the modern iron viaduct and built massive railway bridges that brought him international acclaim. Clarke is buried in St. John's Cemetery, Port Hope.

“Le monde d'aujourd'hui diffère plus du monde de Napoléon Bonaparte que celui-ci différait du monde de Jules César. Ce changement est l'oeuvre principalement du génie civil.” Ce sont les paroles de l'ingénieur Thomas Clarke, originaire de Nouvelle Angleterre, qui vient travailler au chemin de fer à Port Hope en 1853. Il s'installe ici, se marie et élève une famille. En 1860, il est associé d'une société de Port Hope qui construit les édifices

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de l'Est et de l'Ouest du Parlement d'Ottawa. Clarke déménage ensuite aux Etats-Unis où il est le premier à construire le viaduc moderne en fer et où il érige d'immenses ponts de chemin de fer qui lui valent une renommée internationale. Clarke repose au cimetière St. John à Port Hope.

Erected by Ontario Heritage Foundation.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Bridges & Viaducts • Railroads & Streetcars • Science & Medicine. In addition, it is included in the Canada, Ontario Heritage Trust series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1853.

Location. 43° 57.021′ N, 78° 17.664′ W. Marker is in Port Hope, Ontario, in Northumberland County. It is on Elias Street 0.1 kilometers Augusta Street, on the left when traveling north. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 30 Queen Street, Port Hope ON L1A 3V4, Canada. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in the Kawarthas Northumberland Area

and in Eastern Ontario.

It is also in Central Canada.

Globally, it is in North America,

on the Great Lakes,

in the Western Hemisphere,

in the Western

Thomas Curtis Clarke 1827-1901 Marker [français] image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Tim Boyd, June 7, 2025

2. Thomas Curtis Clarke 1827-1901 Marker [français]

World,

and in the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once a British colony,

the Viceroyalty of New France,

the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) Confederacy,

and Rupert’s Land.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: The Little Station House (within shouting distance of this marker); Port Hope Capitol Theatre / Le Théâtre Capitol de Port Hope (about 120 meters away, measured in a direct line); Cenotaph Plaque (about 120 meters away); Port Hope Cenotaph (about 120 meters away); Arthur T.H. Williams MP (about 180 meters away); 77mm German Field Gun (about 180 meters away); Founding of Port Hope (about 180 meters away); Rotary Foot Bridge (about 180 meters away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Port Hope.

Photographed by Tim Boyd, June 7, 2025

3. Thomas Curtis Clarke 1827-1901 Marker

1896

4. Thomas Curtis Clarke in 1896

Source: Wikipedia (public domain)

East Block of the Parliament Buildings in Ottawa ca 1877-80 image. Click for full size.

5. East Block of the Parliament Buildings in Ottawa ca 1877-80

Clarke was a partner in the company that constructed this and the West Block. Source: Library and Archives Canada (public domain)

Credits. This page was last revised on June 10, 2025. It was originally submitted on June 10, 2025, by Tim Boyd of Hamilton, Ontario. This page has been viewed 129 times since then and 22 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. submitted on June 10, 2025, by Tim Boyd of Hamilton, Ontario. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.