William Lyon Mackenzie 1795-1861
As Toronto's first mayor looks on, a provincial plaque nearby in the Rose Garden on the west side of the Ontario Legislative Building has this to say about the gentleman:
Born near Dundee, Scotland, William Lyon Mackenzie came to Upper Canada in 1820, and four years later founded a political newspaper, the "Colonial Advocate", at Queenston. Sharply critical of the ruling oligarchy in the province, he entered politics, became leader of the radical wing of the Reform Party, and in 1834 was elected Toronto's first mayor. The rejection of his demands for reform drove him to lead an armed rebellion in Upper Canada in 1837. Defeated by government forces, he escaped to the United States where he found many sympathizers. In 1849 he was permitted to return to Canada and settled in Toronto. Before his death he witnessed the firm establishment of a system of responsible government.
Location Co-ordinates: 43.662365 -79.392620
Photo by Alan L Brown - September 2006
Related pages:
Mackenzie House
The Types Riot
Montgomery's Tavern
Samuel Lount and Peter Matthews
David Gibson
Related pages from my 'Ontario's Historical Plaques' website:
The Colonial Advocate
Mackenzie's Crossing 1837
Lieutenant-Colonel Robert Moodie 1778-1837
Samuel Lount 1791-1838
Peter Matthews c.1789-1838
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