Winnett Boyd

Winnett Boyd

Winnett Boyd

Winnett Boyd

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Jet engine designer, nuclear reactor designer and author. Born in 1916 in North Wales, Winnett Boyd is the great grandson of Mossom Boyd, founder of Boyd Lumber Company of Bobcaygeon, Ontario, Canada.

Winnett graduated as an engineer from the University of Toronto in 1939. Together with Paul Dilworth, a graduate of the same university, Winnett Boyd developed the Chinook, Canada's first jet engine. At age 31 he became the youngest person ever awarded the University of Toronto Alumni Medal for Excellence in engineering.

In 1951 he was responsible for the design of the National Research Universal Nuclear Reactor. Boyd ran for the Progressive-Conservative Party in the 1972 General Election in Toronto's York-Scarborough Riding. Now in his 80's he is currently promoting his patented back-pedalling brake for multi-speed bicycles.