John Elliott Woolford

John Elliott Woolford was employed as a draftsman by George Ramsay, 9th Earl of Dalhousie, when he served under him in Egypt, and, later when he served as Colonial Governor in Canada.[1][2][3][4] Some of his work is held by the National Gallery of Canada.

John Elliott Woolford
Born1779
London
Died1866 (aged 87–88)
Fredericton, New Brunswick
NationalityBritish
Occupation(s)draftsman, painter, architect
Known fordrawings and painting he made survive and are considered to have historical significance.

Woolford joined the Army at 19, and by 1800 he served under Ramsay when he commanded an expedition to Egypt.[4][3] While in Egypt his skill in drafting came to Ramsay's attention, and Ramsay commissioned him as a full-time draftsman, drawing sketches, or making painting, of important landmarks. Woolford may have been an apprentice at the Drawing Room of the Board of Ordnance. He may have studied under Paul Sandby, professor of drawing at the Royal Military Academy.

Woolford left the Army in 1803, and worked for a decade as a landscape painter, in Edinburgh, until Ramsay hired him to be his draftsman, again, when he was appointed Lieutenant Governor of Nova Scotia.[2][4] When Ramsay was appointed Governor General of British North America Woolford remained in Nova Scotia, where he worked to complete the buildings for Dalhousie College. He joined Ramsay in Quebec, in 1821.

Woolford accompanied Ramsay on a tour of the Canadian wilderness, in 1821.[1][3]

In 1823 Ramsay arranged a sinecure for Woolford, when he was appointed assistant barrack-master in Saint John, New Brunswick.[3] He soon was appointed barrack-master general, in Frederiction. He served in this position for 36 years.

  • The Government House in Halifax, 1819
    The Government House in Halifax, 1819
  • The Chaudiere Falls, Philemon Wright's on the Ottawa, 1821
    The Chaudiere Falls, Philemon Wright's on the Ottawa, 1821
  • Portage at Lake Nippising, 1821
    Portage at Lake Nippising, 1821

References
  1. Glenn Turner (2015). The Toronto Carrying Place: Rediscovering Toronto's Most Ancient Trail. Dundurn Press. ISBN 9781459730472.
  2. Halpenny, Francess G, ed. (1988). "RAMSAY, GEORGE, 9th Earl of DALHOUSIE". Dictionary of Canadian Biography. Vol. VII (1836–1850) (online ed.). University of Toronto Press.
  3. Halpenny, Francess G, ed. (1976). "WOOLFORD, JOHN ELLIOTT". Dictionary of Canadian Biography. Vol. IX (1861–1870) (online ed.). University of Toronto Press.
  4. "John Elliott Woolford". National Gallery of Canada. Retrieved 4 November 2019. John Elliott Woolford, was a landscape painter and architect. His most fruitful career as an artist was the years he spent in Canada under Lord Dalhousie. In his work he celebrated the picturesque nature of the Canadian landscape.
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