William Barclay McMurrich

William Barclay McMurrich (November 1, 1842 – September 6, 1908) was a Canadian lawyer and politician. He was the mayor of Toronto from 1881 to 1882. He was also a member of the Orange Order in Canada.

William Barclay McMurrich
23rd Mayor of Toronto
In office
1881–1882
Preceded byJames Beaty Jr.
Succeeded byArthur Radcliffe Boswell
Personal details
Born(1842-11-01)November 1, 1842
Toronto, Canada West
DiedSeptember 6, 1908(1908-09-06) (aged 65)
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Resting placeMount Pleasant Cemetery
RelationsJohn McMurrich, father
J. Playfair McMurrich, brother
Alma materUniversity of Toronto
ProfessionLawyer

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 practising lawyer.[1]

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 House of Commons of Canada in the riding of West Toronto in the 1882 federal election. He lost to James Beaty Jr.[2]

He died while at a cottage on Lake Joseph in 1908[3] and was buried in Mount Pleasant Cemetery.[4]

McMurrich's younger brother, George McMurrich, was a long-time alderman on Toronto City Council.[5]

References
  1. George Maclean Rose (1886). A Cyclopedia of Canadian Biography: Being Chiefly Men of the Time. A Collection of Persons Distinguished in Professional and Political Life; Leaders in the Commerce and Industry of Canada, and Successful Pioneers. Rose Publishing Co.
  2. Riding history for Toronto West from the Library of Parliament
  3. "Ontario Deaths, 1869-1937 and Overseas Deaths, 1939-1947," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:JDPM-Q25 : 24 June 2015), William Barklay Mcmurrich, 06 Sep 1908; citing Humphrey, Parry Sound, Ontario, yr 1908 cn 22734, Archives of Ontario, Toronto; FHL microfilm 1,854,483.
  4. Mike Filey (1999). Mount Pleasant Cemetery: An Illustrated Guide. Dundurn Press Ltd. ISBN 1-55002-322-5.
  5. "Ald. M'Murrich Lost Battle with Death", Toronto Daily Star (1900-1971); Toronto, Ontario [Toronto, Ontario]. 08 Sep 1913: 11.
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