William Barclay McMurrich (November 1, 1842 – September 6, 1908) 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 and politician. He was the

mayor of Toronto The mayor of Toronto is the head of Toronto City Council and chief executive officer of the municipal government. The mayor is elected alongside city council every four years on the fourth Monday of October; there are no term limits. While in ...

from 1881 to 1882. He was also a member of the

Orange Order in Canada The Grand Orange Lodge of British America, more commonly known as the Grand Orange Lodge of Canada or simply Orange Order in Canada, is the Canadian branch of the Orange Order, a Protestant fraternal organization that began in County Armagh in Ire ...

. Born in

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 ...

, the son of John McMurrich and Janet Dixon, McMurrich was educated at Knox Academy and

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 ...

. He received a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1863 and a Master of Arts degree in 1864 from the

University of Toronto The University of Toronto (UToronto or U of T) is a public research university in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, located on the grounds that surround Queen's Park. It was founded by royal charter in 1827 as King's College, the first institution ...

. He then studied law and was called to the Bar in 1866. He was a practising lawyer. In 1868, he was elected a public school trustee for the St. Andrew's ward and served in this position for eight years. In 1879, he was elected to the

Toronto City Council Toronto City Council is the governing body of the municipal government of Toronto, Ontario. Meeting at Toronto City Hall, it comprises 25 city councillors and the mayor of Toronto. The current term began on November 15, 2022. Structure The cur ...

for the St. Patrick's Ward. In 1881, he was elected mayor of Toronto and re-elected in 1882. He did not run in 1883 instead was a candidate for the

House of Commons of Canada The House of Commons of Canada (french: Chambre des communes du Canada) is the lower house of the Parliament of Canada. Together with the Crown and the Senate of Canada, they comprise the bicameral legislature of Canada. The House of Common ...

in the riding of

West Toronto West Toronto was a federal electoral district represented in the House of Commons of Canada from 1867 to 1904. It was located in the city of Toronto, in the province of Ontario. The district was created by the British North America Act of 1867 a ...

in the 1882 federal election. He lost to James Beaty Jr. He died while at a cottage on

Lake Joseph Lake Joseph is located in Seguin Township, Ontario. The lake is surrounded by many cottages. Lake Joseph is connected to Lake Rosseau through the narrows at Port Sandfield and the Joseph River. Lake Front Resident Advocacy Group There are man ...

in 1908 and was buried in Mount Pleasant Cemetery. McMurrich's younger brother, George McMurrich, was a long-time alderman on Toronto City Council."Ald. M'Murrich Lost Battle with Death", Toronto Daily Star (1900-1971); Toronto, Ontario oronto, Ontario 08 Sep 1913: 11.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:McMurrich, William Barclay 1842 births 1908 deaths Candidates in the 1882 Canadian federal election Mayors of Toronto Lawyers in Ontario University of Toronto alumni