Author: Millington Henry Synge
Born: 1823
Died: 1907
Bio: Millington Henry Synge, a Lieutenant in the Royal Engineers, stationed in Canada, promoted the concept of a transcontinental communications system in a pamphlet with the lengthy title Canada in 1848: *Being an examination of the existing resources of British North America. With considerations for their further and more perfect development as a practical remedy, by means of colonization, for the prevailing distress in the United Empire, and for the defense of the colony*. Four years later, in 1852, Synge, by now a Captain, enlarged upon his earlier thoughts by publishing the pamphlet *Great Britain, One Empire. On the union of the Dominions of Great Britain by inter-communication with the Pacific and the East via British North America with suggestions for the profitable colonization of that wealthy territory*. Captain Synge’s ultimate plan was a continuous transcontinental railway.

Source: [Atlas of Alberta Railways](https://railways.library.ualberta.ca/Chapters-3-1/)