William Murdoch, Jr. (1848-1917), civil engineer, wrote a history of the Saint John Suspension Bridge, which was published in The Saint John Historical Society Collection (No. 10). He was born in Paisley, Scotland, the son of William Murdoch Sr. and Margaret Smith. William Murdoch was a civil engineer and suceeded his uncle Gilbert as the superintendent of the City of Saint John waterworks and sewerage department. He married Mary Augusta Armstrong, daughter of Joseph Armstrong (b. 1814 in Scotland) and Mary Elindur Gray ( b. 1826 in Saint John). They had 11 children.

In 1848, William K. Reynolds (d.1902) was authorized by the New Brunswick Legislature to construct a bridge over the Reversing Falls at Saint John, connecting the east and west sides of the city. He hired Edward Serrel as engineer and the work for the bridge began in 1851 and was completed in 1853 at a cost of $400,000.

The Saint John Suspension Bridge Company was formed in 1852. Its members were: Charles Brown, president; Richard Whiteside Jr., secretary; Bank of New Brunswick, treasurer; and directors Joseph Fairweather, William J. Ritchie, James D. Lewin, and William K. Reynolds. By 1875 complaints about the high tolls lead the provincial government to purchase the bridge for $65,000 and eliminate the tolls.

The Saint John Suspension Bridge was replaced in 1915 by a 565' steel spandrel braced bridge built by the Dominion Bridge Company Ltd. at a cost of over $415,000.