George Brown Historical Plaque

Toronto's Historical Plaques

Learn a little of Toronto's history as told through its plaques.

George Brown 1819-1880

Photos by Alan L Brown - September 2006

Did you know that the Globe & Mail newspaper was founded by the gentleman who lived in this house on the north-west corner of Beverley and Baldwin Streets? The paper at that time was called The Globe. It later merged with The Mail and Empire. There are two historic plaques on this property as well as a statue of the gentleman at Queen's Park along with another plaque at it's base. As well, there is a plaque at his gravesite in the Toronto Necropolis. Here's what the Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada plaque says:

Born at Alloa, Scotland, in 1819 this Father of Confederation was educated in Edinburgh, and settled in Toronto in 1843. Here in the following year he began the Globe, which soon became a leading Reform newspaper. Entering Parliament in 1851, Brown rose to head a reorganized 'Clear Grit' Liberal party. In 1894 he was instrumental in shaping a coalition government to seek Confederation. Prominent in the resulting Charlottetown and Québec Conferences, he left the government in 1896, but remained a power in his party and on the Globe. He built this house in 1874-77 and died here in 1880.

Photo by Alan L Brown - September 2006

The Parks Canada plaque gives us this info:

George Brown was a political activist who fought to ensure that slavery was abolished in North America. During the 1840's and 1850s, Brown used his newspaper The Globe (which became the Globe & Mail) to publish articles and editorials attacking the institution of slavery in the southern United States. As a result of the United States government passing the Fugitive Slave Law in 1850, thousands of African Americans fled to Canada. This law allowed slave owners to arrest both runaway Blacks and even free African Americans anywhere in the country with little legal recourse for the accused. In response, Brown became a major force in founding the Anti-Slavery Society of Canada. The Society fought to end slavery in North America while individual members helped freedom-seekers reach Canada via the Underground Railway. As a consequence, the African Canadian community enthusiastically supported his electoral ambitions. Brown was encouraged in his abolitionist politics by his father, Peter Brown. His sister, Isabella Henning was a founder of the Ladies Society to Aid Fugitive Slaves and her husband, Thomas Henning, was Secretary of the Anti-Slavery Society of Canada.

Location Co-ordinates: 43.655740 -79.394980

Honourable George Brown 1818-1880

Photo by Alan L Brown - September 2006

The plaque at the base of the statue has this to say:

Born near Edinburgh, Scotland, Brown emigrated with his father to New York in 1837. In 1843 he moved to Toronto and the following year founded the "the Globe" newspaper which achieved great political influence. Elected to the Legislature as a Reform member in 1851, Brown became a leader of his party in Canada West. In 1858, with A.A. Dorion, he formed a short-lived government. In 1864 he entered the "Great Coalition" government with his adversary, John A. Macdonald, and played a leading part at the Quebec Conference which led to the establishment of the Dominion of Canada on July 1, 1867. Appointed to the Senate in 1873, Brown remained interested in politics until his death.

Location Co-ordinates: 43.662058 -79.391456

Photos by Alan L Brown - June 2009

This plaque, inside the Toronto Necropolis attached to a small rock, to your left when you're through the gate, has this to say:

George Brown, a Scottish immigrant, founded The Globe. Through his newspaper he exerted a very great influence on the early development of Canada. He was the architect of the Reform Party, which later became the Liberal Party. Both as a journalist and as a politician he spoke out for responsible government and freedom of the individual. He was elected to the Parliament of the Province of Canada in 1851 and some years later, as leader of the Liberal Party, he entered into a coalition with John A. Macdonald of the Conservatives to proceed with the confederation of the Canadian provinces.

Location Co-ordinates: 43.667646 -79.362059

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Here are the comments for this page.

Posted January 23, 2009
check this guy out if you do he is cool

Posted January 7, 2009
He is a great man and this website is so HELPFUL!!I am truly astonished:)

Posted October 28, 2008
This site gave me tons of info for my George Brown confederation project but i still need more... if anyone has more info could you plz e-mail me at floppity123@hotmail.com anyways i need to know his prized possesions his mothers name and lots more so anyways yahh thx all 3 luv yahh
LAURA

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