John Willoughby Crawford

Who was John Willoughby Crawford?

John Willoughby Crawford QC served as the third Lieutenant Governor of Ontario, Canada from 1873 to 1875.

Born in 1817 in Manorhamilton, County Leitrim, Ireland, the son of George Crawford, John Crawford came to Upper Canada as a child when his family settled in Brockville. He married Helen Sherwood of Toronto. A lawyer by profession, Crawford served as president of the Royal Canadian Bank and was solicitor for the Grand Trunk Railway. In 1867, he was appointed Queen's Counsel. He also became president of the Toronto and Nipissing Railway in 1868 and also served as a director of the Toronto, Grey and Bruce Railway.

Crawford was member of the Legislative Assembly of the Province of Canada for East Toronto from 1861 to 1863. He then served as a House of Commons of Canada from 1867 to 1873, and supported representation by population. On the day his government resigned in 1873, The Right Honourable Sir John A. Macdonald appointed Crawford Lieutenant Governor of Ontario.

In the months leading to his death, Crawford's health was poor. following several months of ill health. He died on 13 May 1875 at Government House, his official residence. His funeral service was conducted at St.