James McGill Strachan

Who was James McGill Strachan?

James McGill Strachan was a lawyer, business and political figure in Canada West.

He was born in Cornwall in Upper Canada in 1808, the oldest son of Reverend John Strachan. He purchased a commission in the 68th Foot Regiment and studied at the Royal Military College Sandhurst. In 1836, he returned to Upper Canada where he began the study of law and was admitted to the bar in 1838. During the Upper Canada Rebellion, he served as military secretary to Sir Francis Bond Head. He joined the law practice of John Hillyard Cameron in Toronto as a partner. In 1841, he was elected to the Legislative Assembly of the Province of Canada for Huron; he was unseated after a successful appeal by William Tiger Dunlop. He also served on the Toronto city council. He went bankrupt in 1847 after speculating in land and railway companies but had recovered by 1853. He died in Toronto in 1870.