Oronhyatekha Historical Plaque

Toronto's Historical Plaques

at torontoplaques.com

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

Oronhyatekha (Burning Cloud) 10 August 1841 - 3 March 1907

Photos by Alan L Brown - Posted September, 2006

An 1995 Toronto Historical Board plaque can be found here on the southwest corner of Carlton and Sherbourne streets. Here's what it has to say:

Plaque coordinates: 43.662982 -79.373249

Physician, philanthropist, mason, fraternalist and collector, Oronhyatekha, (baptised Peter Martin) was born at the Grand River Reserve near Brantford. In 1860 he presented the Mohawk address to the visiting Prince Of Wales and met Sir Henry Acland, Regius Professor of Medicine at Oxford, who invited him to study there. Following his return to Canada in 1863, he married Ellen Hill, a great-granddaughter of Joseph Brant, and in 1867 completed his medical studies in Toronto. Oronhyatekha practised in Frankford, Stratford and London where he joined the Independent Order Of Foresters, a Family Fraternal Benefit Society, in 1878. Elected the first Supreme Chief Ranger in 1881, he guided the rise of the I.O.F. with vision and energy. From 1896, 'Dr. O.' lived near here on Carlton Street and at his death lay in state at Massey Hall. His collection of artifacts and curios was subsequently donated to the Royal Ontario Museum.

Related Toronto plaque
Massey Hall

Related Ontario plaque
Oronhyatekha 1841-1907

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First Nations

Here are the visitors' comments for this page.

Posted November 19, 2008
This reminds me that there is no memorial to Kahkewaquonaby (Peter Jones), a prominent Native Canadian of the Mississauga. He was a prominent clergyman in early Toronto, and deeded his land in perpetuity as High Park. Surely, this omission should be corrected.
Reference: (Donald B. Smith) Sacred Feathers - The Reverend Peter Jones (Kahkewaquonaby) and the Mississauga Indians

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