Fonds consists of correspondence of Sir Edward William Watkin, 1856-1896, including letters concerning the Grand Trunk and International railways, a projected Atlantic and Pacific Postal Telegraph Company, the International Financial Society and the Hudson's Bay Company terrritory, together with various agreements, memoranda, newspaper clippings and printed reports or pamphlets (volumes 1-3). Also included is a letter from Sir Charles Tupper to Watkin, 14 June 1894, inviting him to a Dominion Day Dinner to be held in London (volume 4), 3 pages. Fonds also includes microfilmed correspondence and other papers, microfilm reels A-519 to A-520.
Fonds consists of three maps of British North America. One map shows the area claimed by the Hudson's Bay Company; two maps show the navigation routes connecting the Atlantic and Pacific coasts of pre-confederation Canada.
Watkin, E. W. (Edward William), Sir, 1819-1901 : Sir Edward Watkin was born in Salford, Manchester, the son of Abolsom Watkin, a prominent cotton merchant, and Elizabeth Makinson. In 1845, after a few years in his father's business, Watkin began his long career with railroad companies, ultimately serving as Chairman of the Manchester, Sheffield and Lincolnshire Railroad from 1864 to 1894.
He first visited America in 1851, and published an account of his trip. In 1861, at the request of the Duke of Newcastle, Secretary of State for the Colonies, Watkin came to British North America to determine the feasibility of a confederation of the five British colonies and the transfer of Rupert's Land to Canada. From 1861 to 1863, Watkin was President of the Grand Trunk Railway of Canada. He was a member of Parliament in Britain from 1864-1868, 1874-1895, and was created a Baronet in 1880.
