- Born on May 29, 1811 in Pawling New York
- Died on Jan 1, 1907, age 95 in Toronto, Canada
Profile
Biography
- Son of Lydia Pearce and Jonathan Howland
- Father was part of the Religious Society of Friends (Quaker)
- Educated at Kinderhook Academy in New York
- Resided on Carlton Island in the St. Lawrence River
- Immigrated to Upper Canada in 1830
- Purchased a grocery store with his brother, Peleg, in Toronto
- Operated a farm that produced flour, named Lambton Mills
- Married first to Marianne Blyth, who died in 1860
- Then married Susanna Julia Shrewsbury, died in 1886
- Then married Elizabeth Mary Rattray
- Sons were William Holmes Howland and Oliver Aiken Howland
- Both served as mayors of Toronto
- Daughter was presented to Her Majesty in 1875
Sir William Pearce Howland
Family Background
Great Coalition
- Worked with Brown ever since he became involved in politics
- Not part of the coalition ministry formed in June 1864 when Brown joined with John A. Macdonald
- In November, a Reformer was needed to replace Oliver Mowat in the coalition
- Brown nominated Howland
- Was Post Master General
- Became involved with the liberal-conservatives
Only American-Born Father Of Confederation
- 1857, Howland became a Member of the Legislative Assembly of the Province of Canada
- Then served in the cabinet as Minister of Finance, Receiver General and Postmaster General
- He became a Member of Parliament in 1867 and was Minister of Inland Revenue from 1867 to 1868
- Appointed as Ontario's second Lieutenant Governor in 1868 and served until 1873.
- He was knighted in 1879
Political Background