death_date death_place birth_place birth_date image article_title name occupation
17 august 1838 camillus , new york , united states carlisle , pennsylvania , united states 22 july 1763 geddes-james 1810.jpg james geddes -lrb- engineer -rrb-
 james geddes engineer , surveyor , legislator
james geddes -lrb- engineer -rrb-

james geddes -lrb- july 22 , 1763 -- august 17 , 1838 -rrb- was born in carlisle , pennsylvania and was a prominent engineer , surveyor , new york state legislator and u.s. congressman who was instrumental in the planning of the erie canal and other canals in the united states .
he was also at the forefront of development of the salt industry at onondaga lake near syracuse , new york beginning in 1794 .
