Outlying farmers were hampered in getting their produce to market across the Bay of Quinte by the slow ferries.
Corby joined with other major businessmen first, to establish a charter for a steam ferry in 1879.
[2] In 1920 the City of Belleville, Hastings County, and Ontario provincial government together bought the bridge to operate as a public utility.
He was elected to Parliament representing Hastings West as a Conservative Party member, serving 1888 to 1901.
He returned to his businesses but was later appointed to the Senate of Canada in 1912; he served until his death in office in 1917.