John Fisher Wood

Who was John Fisher Wood?

John Fisher Wood, PC, QC was an Ontario businessman, lawyer and politician. He represented Brockville in the Canadian House of Commons as a Liberal-Conservative from 1882 to 1899.

He was born in Addison in Canada West in 1852, the son of a Scottish immigrant. He taught school in Farmersville. He later studied law with Christopher Finlay Fraser in Brockville, was called to the bar in 1876 and set up practice in Brockville. In 1890, he was named Queen's Counsel. He served as solicitor for the United Counties of Leeds and Grenville and was also vice-president of the Brockville, Westport and Sault Ste. Marie Railway. In 1882, he was elected to the House of Commons. He was deputy speaker in the House from 1890 to 1891. From 1892 to 1895, he served as Controller of Inland Revenue; he served as Controller of Customs from 1895 to 1896. Controllers were government ministers, but not members of the cabinet. Wood was part of the "nest of traitors" who forced Mackenzie Bowell to resign as Prime Minister in 1896.

He died in Toronto in 1899 of heart failure.