John William Little

Who is John William Little?

Colonel John William Little was a businessman and mayor of London, Ontario, Canada from 1895 to 1897. He was born in Montreal, Quebec, Canada on June 18, 1848, the first-born child of Thomas Little and Rebecca Robinson.

He was raised and educated in Montreal. In 1875 he moved to London, Ontario and joined his uncle in a partnership that became Robinson, Little. The company rapidly expanded throughout Ontario, the North-West Territories and British Columbia, buying out, in 1887, J.B. Laing & Co., in 1890, John Birrell & Co., both of London and in 1908 they acquired Greenshields Western Ltd. He was also vice-chair of the Board of Governors of the University of Western Ontario, where he was a major influence in re-organization of the university when in 1908 it became a civic enterprise and also non-denominational. His generosity made possible the building of a stadium for both sports and convocations, which was completed in 1929 and named in his honour the J.W. Little Memorial Stadium.

He served on the Board of Water commissioners, was a director of the London and Southeastern Railway and a vice chairman of The Western Fair.