Ralph Smith Cusack
Sir Ralph Smith Cusack | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | November 16, 1821 |
| Died | March 3, 1910 (aged 88) |
| Occupation | Chairman |
| Organization | Midland Great Western Railway |
| Relatives | Ralph Cusack (great-grandson) |
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Sir Ralph Smith Cusack was chairman of the Midland Great Western Railway (MGWR) of Ireland for forty years from 1865 to 1905.
Life
[edit]Cusack was born on 16 November 1821, the son of James William Cusack, a Dublin surgeon, and Elizabeth Bernard. He held the sinecure office of Clerk of the Crown and Hanaper 1858-80.
He was educated at Trinity College, Dublin, graduating BA in 1845 and MA in 1849.v[1]
Cusack was appointed to the board of MGWR in 1858, the company being in some turmoil at this time.[2] Cusack accepted the chairmanship of the MGWR in 1865 following the reluctant two-day incumbency of William Maunsell, the company at that time incurring losses.[3]
He married Elizabeth Barker, daughter of Richard Barker and had seven children. Cusack's youngest son, Henry Edward Cusack, had a fairly rapid rise to Locomotive Superintendent of the MGWR with Clements and McMahon suggesting the familial connection was likely to have been a factor.[4] Cusack was the great-grandson of Ralph Cusack.[5]
Cusack finally retired as Chairman in 1904 after about 40 years aged 84, leaving the Company in a relatively good financial position though receipts were declining.[6] He died on 3 March 1910.
Character
[edit]Shepherd describes Cusack's style as "although autocratic, he was fair-minded and generally liked by all ranks".[6] Tatlow describes him as a "man of striking appearance", fluent, and with a good memory.[7]
References
[edit]Footnotes
[edit]- ↑ Alumni Dublinenses: a register of the students, graduates, professors and provosts of Trinity College in the University of Dublin (1593-1860), Burtchaell, G.D/Sadlier, T.U p204: Dublin, Alex Thom and Co, 1935
- ↑ Shepherd (1994), p. 27.
- ↑ Shepherd (1994), p. 27, 30.
- ↑ Clements & McMahon (2008), p. 181.
- ↑ Hourican, Bridget; Dempsey, Pauric J. (February 2024). "Cusack, Ralph Desmond Athanasius". The Dictionary of Irish Biography. Dublin: Royal Irish Academy. doi:10.3318/dib.002349.v1. Retrieved 1 May 2026.
- 1 2 Shepherd (1994), p. 30.
- ↑ Tatlow (1920), pp. 116–118.
Sources
[edit]- Clements, Jeremy; McMahon, Michael (2008). Locomotives of the GSR. Colourpoint Books. ISBN 9781906578268.
- Shepherd, Ernie (1994). The Midland Great Western Railway of Ireland. Leicester, England: Midland Publishing Limited. ISBN 1-85780-008-7.
- Tatlow, Joseph (1920). Fifty Years of Railway Life in England, Scotland and Ireland. London: Railway Gazette. OCLC 918037007.