Discover Toronto's history as told through its plaques

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William Lyon Mackenzie 1795-1861

Photos by Alan L Brown - Posted May, 2012

Photos by Alan L Brown - Posted October, 2013

Photo Source - Wikimedia Commons

At a museum on the west side of Bond Street, just south of Dundas Street, can be seen this Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada plaque. Here's what it has to say:

Coordinates: 43.655705 -79.378227

Click here for a larger map

Born in Scotland, William Lyon Mackenzie came to Upper Canada in 1820. He became a prominent radical journalist and was first elected to the assembly in 1828, building up a strong popular following. He was the first mayor of the city of Toronto in 1834. Frustrated by political setbacks, Mackenzie led an abortive rebellion in 1837, and fled to the United States. From there he watched the achievement of Canadian self-government, which he had sought ardently but without success. Returning under amnesty if 1850, he sat in Parliament again until 1858.

Another plaque at this location
Mackenzie House

Related webpages
Upper Canada
Rebellion in 1837

More
Conflict

Here are the visitors' comments for this page.

> Posted March 28, 2015
In Thornhill, Ontario, a plaque relates how the Rebellion of 1837 divided even leading citizens, and how bonds of friendship trumped even one's convictions. It was erected in 1981 by the Society for the Preservation of Historic Thornhill, and is located on John Street at Confederation Way (43.814825, -79.422320). Here's what the plaque says:
"Richard Sutton Frizzell 1817 - 1876
Richard Frizzell, a Tory Loyalist active during the Rebellion of 1837, was disdainful of the rebel's cause. On October 18, 1837 he removed a 'Liberty or Death' flag from Gibson House and wove it into the tails of the rebels' horses outside. On December 4, noticing rebel movement on Yonge Street, Frizzell approached Benjamin Thorne, Thornhill's founder, for assistance. Thorne was reluctant to lend a horse as his Mill workers were mostly rebels, but he offered encouragement. After warning Sir Francis Bond Head at York (Toronto), Frizzell took part in the ensuing skirmishes but he refused to betray the location of his rebel friend Samuel Lount who was captured and hanged for treason." -Wayne

> Posted June 29, 2009
Did you know that William Lyon MacKenzie is my ancestor? My maiden name is Hope Williams but it got changed back to my mom's maiden name. So now my name is Hope MacKenzie.

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