John Willoughby Crawford facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
John Willoughby Crawford
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| 3rd Lieutenant Governor of Ontario | |
| In office 12 November 1873 – 13 May 1875 |
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| Monarch | Victoria |
| Governor General | The Earl of Dufferin |
| Premier | Oliver Mowat |
| Preceded by | William Pearce Howland |
| Succeeded by | Donald Alexander Macdonald |
| Member of the Canadian Parliament for Leeds South |
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| In office 1867–1872 |
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| Succeeded by | Albert Norton Richards |
| Member of the Canadian Parliament for West Toronto |
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| In office 1872 – 4 November 1873 |
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| Preceded by | Robert Alexander Harrison |
| Succeeded by | Thomas Moss |
| Member of the Legislative Assembly of the Province of Canada for East Toronto | |
| In office 1861–1863 |
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| Preceded by | Amos Wright |
| Succeeded by | Alexander Mortimer Smith |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 26 August 1817 Manorhamilton, County Leitrim, Ireland |
| Died | 13 May 1875 (aged 57) Toronto, Ontario |
| Nationality | Canadian |
| Political party | Conservative |
John Willoughby Crawford (born August 26, 1817 – died May 13, 1875) was an important Canadian politician. He served as the third Lieutenant Governor of Ontario from 1873 to 1875. This role represents the monarch (like the King or Queen) in the province.
Contents
Early Life and Career
John Crawford was born in 1817 in Manorhamilton, County Leitrim, Ireland. His father was George Crawford, who later became a Canadian Senator. When John was a child, his family moved to Upper Canada (which is now Ontario). They settled in a town called Brockville.
John Crawford became a lawyer. He was also involved in many businesses. He was the president of the Royal Canadian Bank. He also worked as a lawyer for the Grand Trunk Railway, a major railway company. In 1867, he was given the special title of Queen's Counsel. This title is given to experienced lawyers.
Crawford also led the Toronto and Nipissing Railway starting in 1868. He was also a director for the Toronto, Grey and Bruce Railway. These roles show he was very active in developing Canada's transportation.
Political Journey
John Crawford began his political career in the Legislative Assembly of the Province of Canada. He represented East Toronto from 1861 to 1863. This was before Canada became a country.
After Canada was formed in 1867, he became a Member of Parliament. He served in the House of Commons of Canada from 1867 to 1873. During this time, he supported the idea of "representation by population." This means that areas with more people should have more representatives in government.
Lieutenant Governor of Ontario
In 1873, a big change happened in John Crawford's career. The Right Honourable Sir John A. Macdonald, who was the first Prime Minister of Canada, appointed him Lieutenant Governor of Ontario. This happened on the same day Macdonald's government resigned.
As Lieutenant Governor, Crawford lived at Government House in Toronto. He held this important position for about two years.
Later Life and Legacy
John Crawford's health began to decline in the months before his death. He passed away on May 13, 1875, at Government House. His funeral was held at St. James Cathedral in Toronto. He was buried in a family vault belonging to his wife's family.
John Willoughby Crawford played a key role in early Canadian politics and business. He helped shape the new province of Ontario.
