Discover Toronto's history as told through its plaques

2004 - Now in our 15th Year - 2019

To see what's new on this site, you can visit the Home Page

Looking at this page on a smartphone?
For best viewing, hold your phone in Landscape mode (Horizontal)

William Lyon Mackenzie 1795-1861

Photo by Alan L Brown - Posted June, 2011

Photo by Alan L Brown - Posted September, 2006

A plaque in the Rose Garden on the west side of the Ontario Legislative Building in Queen's Park, in front of a statue of the gentleman, has this to say about him:

Coordinates: 43.662400 -79.392667

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.

More Plaques in Queen's Park
Honourable George Brown 1818-1880
King's College
Lieutenant-General John Graves Simcoe 1752-1806
Lieutenant-General John Graves Simcoe 1752-1806
The Loyalists in Upper Canada
The Mackenzie-Papineau Battalion (1937-1938)
Queen's Park
Queen's Park
Queen's Park, Toronto
Robert Baldwin 1804-1858
The Royal Tour of 1939
Sir Gordon Drummond 1771-1854
Sir James Pliny Whitney
Sir John A. Macdonald 1815-1891
Sir Oliver Mowat 1820-1903
Welcome to Queen's Park

More
Conflict

Here are the visitors' comments for this page.

(none yet)

Here's where you can send me a comment for this page.

Note: Your email address will be posted at the end of your comment so others can respond to you unless you request otherwise.

Note: Comments are moderated. Yours will appear on this page within 24 hours (usually much sooner).

Note: As soon as I have posted your comment, a reply to your email will be sent informing you.

To send me your comment, click [email protected].

Thanks
Webmaster

Note: If you wish to send me a personal email, click here.