Robert Gilmour Leckie (23 August 1833 – 5 November 1914) was a Scottish-born Canadian major who may almost be described as the father of mining engineering in Canada.

[2][1] Leckie took a great interest in military affairs during his later years in life and held a commission as lieutenant in a rifle company raised in the Eastern Townships during the 1866–1871 Fenian raids.

[1] Leckie, in co-operation with Charles Fergie and John Hardman, was chiefly responsible for the organization of the Mining Society of Nova Scotia, of which he was a vice-president.

[1][2] In Nova Scotia, he was associated with several coal and gold mining enterprises and around 1880, was responsible, in association with the late William Hedley of Halifax and Senator Senecal of Springhill, in Cumberland County, with the Springhill and Parrsborough Railway Company, thus forming the Cumberland Railway and Coal Company, of which he became managing director.

[1][2] Under his direction, this undertaking from modest beginnings grew to great importance, attaining an output of 500,000 tons of coal per year.

Before his departure from Nova Scotia in 1898, Leckie acquired the Torbrook iron mines, which he worked until they were purchased by the Drummonds of Montreal.

[1] After leaving Torbrook, he acted in the capacity of examining engineer for Robert Means Thompson of New York and in this connection reported on nickel and other mines in New Caledonia, Norway, Sweden and Australia.

After retiring from consulting practice, he focused his activities on acquiring and partially developing promising prospects in Northern Ontario.