David Breakenridge Read (13 June 1823 – 11 May 1904) was a

Canadian Canadians (french: Canadiens) are people identified with the country of Canada. This connection may be residential, legal, historical or cultural. For most Canadians, many (or all) of these connections exist and are collectively the source of ...

lawyer, educator, author, and Mayor of Toronto in 1858. Read was Mayor of

Toronto Toronto ( ; or ) is the capital city of the Canadian province of Ontario. With a recorded population of 2,794,356 in 2021, it is the most populous city in Canada and the fourth most populous city in North America. The city is the ancho ...

from November 11, 1858 to December 31, 1858. He served a mere 50 days, thus making him the shortest-serving

Mayor In many countries, a mayor is the highest-ranking official in a municipal government such as that of a city or a town. Worldwide, there is a wide variance in local laws and customs regarding the powers and responsibilities of a mayor as well a ...

of that city. Born in Merrickville,

Ontario Ontario ( ; ) is one of the thirteen provinces and territories of Canada.Ontario is located in the geographic eastern half of Canada, but it has historically and politically been considered to be part of Central Canada. Located in Central Ca ...

, the sixth child of John Landon Read 789-??and

Janet Breakenridge Janet may refer to: Names * Janet (given name) * Janet (French singer) (1939–2011) Surname * Charles Janet (1849–1932), French engineer, inventor and biologist, known for the Left Step periodic table * Jules Janet (1861–1945), French p ...

795-1832 Read was educated in Brockville, and, at the age of thirteen, was accepted into Toronto's

Upper Canada College Upper Canada College (UCC) is an elite, all-boys, private school in Toronto, Ontario, operating under the International Baccalaureate program. The college is widely described as the country's most prestigious preparatory school, and has produce ...

. Four years later, 1840, he was admitted to the Law Society of Upper Canada. Read began his law articles while working for George Sherwood in Brockville. His studies were finished with John Ross in Belleville and then John Willoughby Crawford in Toronto. Read was admitted into the bar in 1845. He then began a law practice which became successful. In 1845 he served as

Barrister at Law A barrister is a type of lawyer in common law jurisdictions. Barristers mostly specialise in courtroom advocacy and litigation. Their tasks include taking cases in superior courts and tribunals, drafting legal pleadings, researching law and giv ...

. He married Emily Ballard, born 1827, daughter of Norman Ballard. The couple had seven children. In November 1855, he was elected a Bencher of the Law Society of Upper Canada. The next year, Read was appointed by Attorney General John A.MacDonald to a commission to revise the statutes of Upper Canada. Read served as a junior commissioner and was the commission's secretary. In 1858, he was elected to Toronto City Council as alderman for St Patrick's Ward. Council appointed him Mayor of Toronto on November 11, 1858 after his predecessor,

William Henry Boulton William Henry Boulton (April 19, 1812 – February 15, 1874) was a lawyer and political figure in Canada West. He served as Mayor of Toronto from 1845 to 1847, and in 1858. He was also a member of the Orange Order in Canada. Boulton died in ...

, announced his resignation. He served in that post until December 31 of that year, when

Adam Wilson Sir Adam Wilson (September 22, 1814 – December 28, 1891) was a lawyer, judge and political figure in Canada West. He served as mayor of Toronto in 1859 and 1860 and in the Legislative Council of the Province of Canada for York North from 1860 ...

was elected to take that post. He was also a member of the Orange Order in Canada. Read continued to serve in the Law Society until his retirement in April 1881 at the age of 55. In November 1902, at the age of 79, Read suffered a stroke that would leave him bedridden for the final year and half until his death. He died on May 11, 1904, and was buried among many of his colleagues in a private funeral at

St. James Cemetery St James's Cemetery is an urban park behind Liverpool Cathedral that is below ground level. Until 1825, the space was a stone quarry, and until 1936 it was used as the Liverpool city cemetery. It has been designated a Grade I Historic Park by H ...

in Toronto.

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* * {{DEFAULTSORT:Read, David 1823 births 1904 deaths Mayors of Toronto Burials at St. James Cemetery, Toronto