Sir John Morison Gibson
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In office
September 21, 1908 ? September 26, 1914
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Monarchs
| Edward VII
George V
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Governors General
| The Earl Grey
The Duke of Connaught and Strathearn
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Premier
| James Whitney
William Howard Hearst
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Preceded by
| Sir William Mortimer Clark
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Succeeded by
| John Strathearn Hendrie
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In office
1898?1904
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Preceded by
| John Craig
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Succeeded by
| James J. Craig
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Constituency
| Wellington East
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In office
1894?1898
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Preceded by
| Riding established
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Succeeded by
| Edward Alexander Colquhoun
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Constituency
| Hamilton West
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In office
1879?1894
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Preceded by
| James Miller Williams
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Succeeded by
| Riding abolished
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Constituency
| Hamilton
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Born
| (
1842-01-01
)
January 1, 1842
Toronto Township, Canada West
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Died
| June 3, 1929
(1929-06-03)
(aged 87)
Hamilton, Ontario
, Canada
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Resting place
| Hamilton Cemetery
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Political party
| Liberal
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Spouse(s)
| Emily Annie Birrell (d. 1874)
Caroline Hope (d. 1877)
Elizabeth Malloch (m. 1881)
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Children
| 1 daughter who died at birth; 4 sons and 2 daughters
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Residence
| Hamilton, Ontario
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Alma mater
| University of Toronto
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Profession
| militia officer, lawyer, and businessman
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Cabinet
| Minister Without Portfolio (1904-1905)
Attorney General (1899-1904)
Commissioner of Crown Lands (1896-1899)
Provincial Secretary and Registrar (1889-1896)
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Sir John Morison Gibson
KCMG
KC
(January 1, 1842 – June 3, 1929) was a
Canadian
politician
and the
tenth
Lieutenant Governor of Ontario
.
Biography
[
edit
]
John Morison Gibson, the son of Scottish immigrants, was born in 1842, in Toronto. He grew up on a farm in Caledonia, Ontario, went to Hamilton Central School, in Hamilton, and went on to be educated at the
University of Toronto
, as a lawyer. In 1860 he joined the university company of the 2nd Battalion Volunteer Militia of
The Queen's Own Rifles of Canada
and was a Wimbledon marksman in 1874. He became a company director and developed a keen interest in music and art. On his return to Hamilton in 1864, he enlisted in the 13th Battalion as an ensign. In 1866, he was a lieutenant in the 13th Battalion, and fought at the
Battle of Ridgeway
, defending against the
Fenian raids
. He rose through the ranks of the 13th Battalion and was Commanding Officer from 1886 to 1895 (see regimental history
Royal Hamilton Light Infantry (Wentworth Regiment)
). He was a Member of the Legislature from 1879 to 1905 and held the posts of
Provincial Secretary
, Commissioner of Crown Lands and
Attorney General of Ontario
. Gibson was appointed
Lieutenant Governor of Ontario
in 1908,
[1]
and was knighted in 1912. During his mandate, the new Government House in
Chorley Park
(now demolished) was completed. Gibson served as Lieutenant Governor until 1914. He was one of Hamilton's "5 Johns", who, in 1896, formed the Dominion Power and Transmission Company, that brought hydroelectric power, for the first time, to Hamilton, from their plant, at DeCew Falls.
[2]
John Dickenson
was another of the 5 Johns.
"One big reason" for almost 75% increase in the population of Hamilton between 1901 and 1912, boasted Sir John Morison Gibson of
Dominion Power and Transmission Company
, was "Cheap Electric Power Furnished By Us." This simplistic explanation for the development of Hamilton in the early twentieth century leaves much unexamined, but one conclusion cannot be disputed. In the perception of the Hamilton public, a view certainly fostered by Gibson and his fellow hydroelectric promoters, Hamilton was no longer regarded the Birmingham or the Pittsburgh of Canada Hamilton was now, as the title of a 1906 promotional booklet on the city proudly proclaimed,
"The Electric City."
[2]
After receiving a grant from
Andrew Carnegie
of New York the city of Hamilton built a brand new Library on the south side of Main Street West, across the street from the old Library. It was officially opened by the Lieutenant Governor Sir John Morison Gibson on May 5, 1913.
[3]
He was active in many charities, especially the
Red Cross
and child welfare. He died in
Hamilton, Ontario
in 1929.
[2]
Tribute
[
edit
]
The
Gibson
neighbourhood in Hamilton is named after him. it is bounded by
Barton Street East
(north),
Main Street East
(south),
Wentworth Street
(west) and
Sherman Avenue
(east). Landmarks in this neighbourhood include
Cathedral High School
,
Budget Motor Inn
,
Barton Library
,
Hamilton-Wentworth District School Board
,
Hamilton-Wentworth Catholic District School Board
,
Powell Park
and
Woodland Park
. Gibson Avenue, found in this neighbourhood, is also named after him.
[4]
Electoral history
[
edit
]
References
[
edit
]
External links
[
edit
]