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

William Lyon Mackenzie 1795-1861

Photos by Alan L Brown - September 2006

There are three plaques about this gentleman, Toronto's first mayor. This home at 82 Bond Street has two plaques on the property. One, an Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada plaque, has this to say:

Born in Scotland, William Lyon Mackenzie came to Upper Canada in 1820. He became a prominent radical journalist and was first elected to the assembly in 1828, building up a strong popular following. He was the first mayor of the city of Toronto in 1834. Frustrated by political setbacks, Mackenzie led an abortive rebellion in 1837, and fled to the United States. From there he watched the achievement of Canadian self-government, which he had sought ardently but without success. Returning under amnesty if 1850, he sat in Parliament again until 1858.

Photo by Alan L Brown - September 2006

The other plaque from Heritage Toronto says:

Mackenzie House was the last home of William Lyon Mackenzie, Toronto's first mayor, outspoken newspaper editor, and primary leader of the 1837 Rebellion in Upper Canada. The defeat of the rebels forced Mackenzie to flee to the United States. Pardoned in 1849, he returned to Toronto and resumed his political career. When Mackenzie retired from the provincial legislature in 1858, his friends and supporters bought this house for him. Mackenzie lived here until his death in 1861 and his widow and daughters continued to occupy the building until 1871. In 1950 Mackenzie House opened as a historic site museum, and in 1967 a new addition was built to re-create a 19th-century printing shop.

Plaque Location Co-ordinates: 43.655705 -79.378227

Photos by Alan L Brown - September 2006

A provincial plaque in the Rose Garden on the west side of the Ontario Legislative Building, not far from a statue of the gentleman on the Legislative grounds, has this to say about him:

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.

Plaque Location Co-ordinates: 43.662365 -79.392620

Related Ontario plaque pages
Colonial Advocate
Mackenzie's Crossing 1837
Rebellion of 1837

More Conflict pages

Here are the comments for this page.

Posted April 7, 2010
I visited MacKenzie House many times in the past and always found it to be a fascinating place. Since I am no longer in Toronto I am no longer able to visit, but would love to see it again one day.

Posted February 14, 2010
i also love the paranormal

Posted September 27, 2009
good pictures but all this information is pretty usless

Posted August 18, 2009
I would love to visit the mackenzie house because of my big interest in the paranormal.

Posted June 29, 2009
Did you know that William Lyon MacKenzie is my ancestor? My maiden name is Hope Williams but it got changed back to my mom's maiden name. So now my name is Hope MacKenzie.

Posted June 19, 2009
I'd love to go visit this house. I'm a big fan of haunted homes. I will try convincing my parents to bring me there one day.

Posted May 30, 2009
doest't talk a lot about what he really did but i used the pictures for my essay.

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