Joseph Wright

Who was Joseph Wright?

Joseph Walter Harris Wright was a famed Canadian rower, municipal politician, and all-round athlete who had success in a variety of sports in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries.

As rowing competitor and coach Wright had more than a 130 titles to his credit in numerous rowing classes, including taking the U.S. National Fours and Pairs titles in 1895. He competed in the 1904 Summer Olympics and 1908 Summer Olympics. In 1904 he was a member of the Canadian boat which won the silver medal in the eights. Four years later he won the bronze medal in the same class. Finally, at the 1912 Summer Olympics he was a coach of the Canadian eights crew.

Off the water Wright was an accomplished athlete in track and field, sprint, and billiards. He claimed amateur titles in both wrestling and boxing and set throw records in shot put and hammer throw. He also served as coach-captain of the Toronto Argonauts rugby-football team, an adjunct of the rowing club, in the 1890s.

He was elected to Toronto City Council in 1928, and served three terms before being defeated in the 1931 election.