Ottawa-born R. E. ('Bert') Jamieson graduated from McGill in applied science in 1914 and after serving with the Canadian Siege Artillery in World War I returned to earn his M.Sc. in 1920. In the same year he joined the staff of the Department of Civil Engineering as Lecturer in 1920, became Assistant Professor in 1925, Associate Professor in 1930, and William Scott Professor of Civil Engineering in 1932. He served as Dean of the Faculty from 1952 until 1957; he retired as Emeritus Professor in 1962. During the Second World War, Jamieson was director-general of army engineering for the supply branch of the Department of Munitions and Supply. After his retirement, he worked as Planning Director for McGill's Brace Research Institute.