Matthew A. Sammett

Matthew A. Sammett, one of the most competent electrical engineers in Canada, was born at Baku, Russia, on the 2d of November, 1872. He was educated in a technical school in his native land and in 1893, when a young man of twenty-one years, came to the new world. He continued his education by attendance at night schools for a time and afterward entered the University of California, where he pursued a four years’ course, which he completed by graduation with the Bachelor of Science degree in 1899. He immediately put his theoretical training to practical test and joined the staff of the General Electrical Company of Schenectady, New York, in which connection he obtained thorough familiarity with modern electrical machinery and general engineering practice. The ability which he displayed in that connection won him promotion to the engineering department and in that position he made a close study of the design of some of the alternating current machinery now in universal use. Each step in his career has been a forward one, and each change in his business connections has marked an advance. In 1902 he joined the engineering staff of the Lachine Rapids Hydraulic & Land Company and after its amalgamation with the Montreal Light, Heat & Power Company was given charge of the testing department of the new organization, his work embracing the testing of the various kinds of electrical apparatus used in the transformation, control and measurement of electrical energy. He also designed a complete line of highly efficient transformers for lighting and power service.

During 1905 and 1906 Mr. Sammett conducted a popular course in applied electricity at the Montreal Young Men’s Christian Association.

In 1908 Mr. Sammett opened an office as consulting engineer in Montreal and in this connection has gained a large and distinctively representative clientage, including the Amalgamated Asbestos Corporation, Ltd.; The Asbestos & Asbestic Company, Ltd.; The St. Francis Hydraulic Company, Ltd.; The Brompton Pulp & Paper Company; The Maritime Coal, Railway & Power Company, Ltd.; The Dominion Marble Company, Ltd.; The Smart-Woods Company, Ltd. He has also been retained in connection with municipal electrical undertakings. The practice of his profession now makes heavy demands upon his time and energies, and in addition he is well known as a contributor to the technical press of the United States and Canada. He has also prepared and read many scientific papers before engineering bodies and is known personally or by reputation to the entire electrical profession on the American continent. He has formed many warm friendships by keeping in close touch with the progress of his profession as a member of the Canadian Electrical Association, the Canadian Society of Civil Engineers and the American Institute of Electrical Engineers.

Mr. Sammett married Miss Eleanor Horwitz, and their children are four in number, Frank Edward, Hazel, Helene and Pearl. Mr. Sammett is a member of the Canadian Club and possesses a genial cordial nature that has made him popular, but he prefers to concentrate his energies upon his business affairs, in which he has attained notable success. He is a self-made man. Commendable ambition pointed out to him the way to success. He followed the path indicated and is today occupying an advanced position as an electrical engineer.