John Simpson (December 27, 1807 – September 19, 1878) was a businessman and political figure in Canada West. He was born in Helmsley, Yorkshire, England in 1807 and came to

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in Upper Canada in 1835 where he entered business as a bookseller. With George Menzies as a partner, he began publishing the ''Niagara Chronicle'' in 1837. He also published some other works, including ''The Canadian mercantile almanack'', and became sole owner of the newspaper in 1839. He took on other business interests and also served as customs collector at Niagara. Simpson served on the council for Niagara District and the town council for Niagara, serving as mayor from 1852 to 1855. In 1857, he was elected to the Legislative Assembly for Niagara; he was reelected in 1861 and 1863. In March 1864, he was named to the

Executive Council Executive Council may refer to: Government * Executive Council (Commonwealth countries), a constitutional organ that exercises executive power and advises the governor * Executive Council of Bern, the government of the Swiss canton of Bern * Ex ...

as provincial secretary. Later that year, he resigned his seat, allowing William McDougall to enter the cabinet and the newly-formed Great Coalition. He was appointed deputy auditor general and served in that post until his death in

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in 1878.

References

Biography at the ''Dictionary of Canadian Biography Online''
{{DEFAULTSORT:Simpson, John 1807 births 1878 deaths Members of the Legislative Assembly of the Province of Canada from Canada West 19th-century Canadian civil servants Mayors of places in Ontario People from Helmsley