William Barclay McMurrich

Who was William Barclay McMurrich?

William Barclay McMurrich was a Canadian lawyer and politician. He was the mayor of Toronto from 1881 to 1882.

Born in Toronto, the son of John McMurrich and Janet Dixon, McMurrich was educated at Knox Academy and Upper Canada College. He received a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1863 and a Master of Arts degree in 1864 from the University of Toronto. He then studied law and was called to the Bar in 1866. He was a practicing lawyer.

In 1868, he was elected a public school trustee for the St. Andrew's ward and served in this position for eight years. In 1879, he was elected to the Toronto City Council for the St. Patrick's ward. In 1881, he was elected mayor of Toronto and re-elected in 1882. He did not run in 1883 instead was a candidate for the Canadian House of Commons in the riding of West Toronto in the 1882 federal election. He lost to James Beaty, Jr.

He died in 1939 and was buried in Mount Pleasant Cemetery.