John Neil (1808 – after 1878) was an Irish-born farmer,

justice of the peace A justice of the peace (JP) is a judicial officer of a lower or ''puisne'' court, elected or appointed by means of a commission ( letters patent) to keep the peace. In past centuries the term commissioner of the peace was often used with the sa ...

and politician in

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 ...

. He served as reeve of

Fitzroy Township, Ontario Fitzroy is a former incorporated and present day geographic township (Canada)#Ontario, township originally part of Carleton County, Ontario, Carleton County in eastern Ontario, Canada. Fitzroy was located in the western part of the county, bordere ...

from 1863 to 1864, in 1867 and from 1872 to 1877. He was born in Croghan, King's County, near

Tipperary Tipperary is the name of: Places *County Tipperary, a county in Ireland **North Tipperary, a former administrative county based in Nenagh **South Tipperary, a former administrative county based in Clonmel *Tipperary (town), County Tipperary's na ...

and came to Canada in 1834 to acquire land for himself and his brothers. He arrived in

Bytown Bytown is the former name of Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. It was founded on September 26, 1826, incorporated as a town on January 1, 1850, and superseded by the incorporation of the City of Ottawa on January 1, 1855. The founding was marked by a Grou ...

and then walked to Fitzroy township to inspect his land grants. In June of the following year, he returned to Ireland to marry Elizabeth Hodgins. On his return, he was provided with law books so that he could act as a magistrate and was named district councillor for Fitzroy. He represented Fitzroy on the district and county councils until 1848 and again from 1855 to 1878.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Neil, John (Canadian politician) 1808 births Year of death uncertain Mayors of West Carleton Township 19th-century Canadian politicians Canadian magistrates