Toronto's Historical Plaques
Learn a little of Toronto's history as told through its plaques.
Sir Oliver Mowat 1820-1903
Photos by Alan L Brown - September 2006
Sir Oliver Mowat has two plaques that tell us about him. One plaque is beneath this statue in Queen's Park just south of the legislature. The other, an Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada plaque, is in the lobby of the Mowat Block on Bay Street south of Wellesley Street West. Here's what the first plaque says:
Born in Kingston, Mowat studied law under John A. Macdonald. After moving to Toronto in 1840, he was elected a Liberal Member of the Legislature of the Province of Canada in 1857 and served as Provincial Secretary in 1858 and Postmaster General, 1863-64. He took part in the Quebec Conference of 1864 which led to Confederation in 1867. Mowat became Ontario's third Prime Minister in 1872, succeeding the Hon. Edward Blake, and retained that post for almost 24 years. Resigning in 1896, he accepted a seat in the Senate, and became Minister of Justice, 1896-97, in the cabinet of Sir Wilfrid Laurier. Mowat served as Lieutenant-Governor of Ontario from 1897 until his death.
Location Co-ordinates: 43.662058 -79.391456
Photo by Alan L Brown - September 2006
The second plaque tells us this:
Born in Kingston, where he was trained as a lawyer, Oliver Mowat served as a Toronto alderman before his election to the legislature of the united Canadas as a Reformer in 1857. He joined the Great Coalition in 1864 and attended the Quebec Conference. From 1872 to 1896 he served as premier and attorney-general of Ontario, a period of office noted for the introduction of the ballot (1874), the extension of the franchise (1888), and a determined fight for provincial rights. In 1896 Mowat was named to the Senate and became Minister of Justice in the Laurier cabinet, but he resigned the next year to become lieutenant-governor of Ontario.
Location Co-ordinates: 43.663452 -79.387502
Photo Source - Canadian Heritage Gallery
Related pages
Northfield
The Macdonald-Mowat House
Related page
Sir Oliver Mowat
Here are the comments for this page.
(none yet)
Here's were you can write a comment for this page.
(Note: If you wish to ask me a question, please use the email link in the menu.)
Note: Comments are moderated. Yours will appear on this page within 24 hours (usually much sooner).