Learn a little of Toronto's history as told through its plaques.
Sir Oliver Mowat 1820-1903
Photo by Alan L Brown - September 2006
Sir Oliver Mowat has two plaques that tell us about him. This one, 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 it says:
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.
Plaque Location Co-ordinates: 43.663452 -79.387502
© 2010 Google
Photo Source - Canadian Heritage Gallery
Photos by Alan L Brown - September 2006
This plaque is beneath this statue in Queen's Park just south of the legislature. Here's what it 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.
Plaque Location Co-ordinates: 43.662058 -79.391456
© 2010 Google
Related Toronto plaque pages
Northfield
The Macdonald-Mowat House
Related Ontario plaque page
Sir Oliver Mowat
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