Mr. Wanklyn was born at Buenos Aires, the Argentine Republic, on February 25, 1860, son of the late Frederic Wanklyn and Elizabeth Riestra Lumb, both of Lancashire, England. The father went to South America from England, settling in Buenos Aires, where he became a successful and prominent merchant, and where he died. His family then returned to England, where they thereafter made their home. All the members of the family were of the Anglican faith in their religious views.

Frederic, (Fred) Lumb Wanklyn, of whom this is primarily a record, was eleven years of age when he left his Buenos Aires home in 1871 and was sent to England. He was educated at Marlborough College there, and studied engineering under the late Charles Sacre, C.E., at Manchester, England. His first position of importance he obtained in Italy, where he became resident engineer of the Tramways and General Works Lines in Lombardy. Later he served as general manager and engineer of the Lombardy Roads Railway Company.

Coming to Canada, he was made assistant mechanical superintendent of the Grand Trunk Railway and manager of the road locomotive works. In 1897 he was appointed general manager of the Toronto Street Railway. From that year until 1903 he acted as manager and chief engineer of the street railway in Montreal, where, in 1910, he was elected a member of the first Board of Commissioners of the city.

From 1903 to 1910 he acted as vice-president of the Dominion Coal Company, in which he continued a director until 1920. He was a director- of the Dominion Bridge Company for a period of thirty-one years, and served as vice-president from 1913 to the time of his death. The city Board of Commissioners was constituted in 1910, following changes in the charter, and it replaced the aldermen as the governing body of the city of Montreal. For two years Mr. Wanklyn was a member of the board.

It was in March, 1912, that he became associated with the Canadian Pacific Railway, taking the position of general executive assistant to the president, with headquarters in Montreal. He retired from this post on January 5, 1925, after many years of useful service. During his period in that office, Mr. Wanklyn was appointed by the Government to sit on the fuel board set up to deal with post-war fuel problems. He was tireless in his efforts to meet the needs of Government and Empire on that occasion. For years, too, he served as a member of the board of governors of Royal Victoria Hospital, having retired from that connection only in 1929. He was also a member of the board of governors of the Alexandra Hospital and very active in its work.

During the short period in which Mr. Wanklyn was a member of the Board of Commissioners of Montreal, he foresaw the possibilities of a "water deal", and warned the public against it. The Board had to bring about a complete reorganization of all departments of the municipal service, having been vested with all the powers that formerly were designated to committees of aldermen. A local paper, in commenting editorially upon the work of Mr. Wanklyn, wrote in part:
 

In addition to his other activities, Mr. Wanklyn was also a lover of outdoor life, fond of shooting and fishing, as well as the game of golf and other sports. Art, likewise, won his attention and a great deal of his study. He always liked carved pieces, and in his home had many objects of hand-carved works of art, which he spent much of his leisure time in collecting. His residence in Drummond Street was built for him; and here he lived most of his life. He enjoyed domestic tranquility, and was never happier than when among the members of his family and his friends in the quiet of his own home. He was a Conservative in his political views, and his religious affiliation was with the Anglican Church. He was a Free and Accepted Mason, and in the Masonic order was connected with the Blue Lodge. He liked to travel, and after he retired he spent his winter months in visiting foreign lands and parts of Canada. An individual of sterling character and an outstanding man and citizen, he was loved and esteemed by all whose privilege it was to know him; and his memory will continue to live, a source of inspiration and guidance to his fellow men in widely varying walks of life.

Frederic Lumb Wanklyn was twice married. He married, first, in 1887, Edith Margaret Angus, born in Montreal, daughter of the late R. B. Angus and eldest sister of Mrs. Charles Meredith, of Montreal. Mrs. Wanklyn died in 1907; and Mr. Wanklyn married, second, Lucy Helen McConnel, of Colmonell, Scotland, who was with her husband on the cruise on which he was seized with his last illness, and who survived him. She now makes her home (1931) in the Glen Eagle Apartments, in Cote des Neiges Road, Montreal. She, like her husband, has been a consistent Anglican in her religious affiliation.

By his first marriage, Mr. Wanklyn had four children: 
1. Major Frederic Angus Wanklyn, who lives in Paris, France. 
2. Andrew Angus Wanklyn, who was killed in the Great War. 
3. Gyneth Wanklyn, who became the wife of W. D. McLennan, of Montreal. 
4. David Wanklyn, now industrial commissioner for the Canadian Pacific Railway, in Montreal.

The death of F. L. Wanklyn occurred on August 3, 1930, at Grimsby, England, while on a Norwegian cruise, having been taken ill in the steamer at sea. He was laid to rest in Mount Royal Cemetery, Montreal, whither his ashes were brought by his widow. With his passing, this city lost one of its exemplary citizens, a man of remarkable abilities and achievements and character, and one who fully merited the many tributes that were paid him.

A Montreal newspaper in its editorial columns, by way of touching tribute, said:
 

Civil engineer; Quebec municipal service; consular service.  Eldest son of the late Frederic Wanklyn, Buenos Ayres, South America and Elizabeth Riestra Lumb; born Buenos Ayres, February 25, 1860; educated at Marlborough College, England; married October, 1887 to Edith Margaret Angus (died July, 1907), eldest daughter of  R.B. Angus; studied engineering under Charles Sacré, C.E., Manchester England; M. Instit. C.E., 1885; M. Can. Soc. C.E., 1887; councillor, do. do., 1909; was resident engineer, Tramways & General Works Companies lines, Lombardy, Italy; subsequently became general manager and engineer of the Lombardy Roads Railway Co.; later, became assistant mechanical superintendent, Grand Trunk Railway; was promoted manager of locomotive works, do.; general manager, Toronto Railway, 1897; manager and chief engineer, Montreal Street Railway, 1897-1903; Vice-President Dominion Coal Company, 1903-10; remains a director of the company; is a director Dominion Bridge Co., Montreal Park and Island Railway, Pacific Coal Fields Co., and Montreal Structural Steel Co.; Vice-President Windsor Hotel Co.; President Montreal Terminal Railway; Do., P.Q. Fish & Game Protection Association, 1900-05; a councilor, Montreal Shipping Federation; a governor, Royal Victoria Hospital and Alexandra Hospital; appointed vice-consul for Argentine Republic at Montreal, 1888; portrait painted by Dyonnet, 1903; a Freemason; an Anglican.

Residences: 241 Drummond St., Montreal; summer: “Birchfield,” Ste. Anne de Bellevue, P.Q.

Clubs: St. James Club; Mt. Royal Club; Forest and Stream Club; Canadian Club; St. George Snowshoe Club, Montreal 

“A man of discernment and acuteness.” – Montreal Herald 

Mrs. Wanklyn and children 1891 Notman photo

Master Wanklyn 1891 Notman photo