Francis Henry Medcalf (1803-1880)
The Sash Our Forefathers Wore
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Francis Henry Medcalf was born in Delgany, County Wicklow, Ireland on May 10th, 1803 to parents William Anthony Medcalf and Martha Poole.
William and Martha left Ireland with their eight children and arrived in Upper Canada in 1819 and settled on the Big Otter Creek in Bayham, Ontario. In 1823, Francis left for Pennsylvania and stayed there until 1839, working as a blacksmith and millwright. He married Mary Harrison in 1831 in Philadelphia before returning with her to Canada to run several foundries in Toronto. Francis and Mary had four children, two boys and two girls; Edward (b. 1839), Sarah Jane (b. 1845), Henry (b. 1847) and Mary Elizabeth (b. 1849). In 1847 he established the Don Foundry and Machine Shop on King Street East, a company that specialized in the manufacture of agricultural implements and steam engines. Francis was heavily involved with the Loyal Orange Association serving as Worshipful Master of Toronto’s McKinley Loyal Orange Lodge No. 275 on several occasions, also serving as District Master and as the first County Master of Toronto on the formation of the County Orange Lodge of Toronto in 1860. He was the second Grand Master of the Grand Orange Lodge of Ontario West, holding that office in from 1862 to 1864. It was his lodge service that led him to Toronto politics and his successful election as alderman of St. Lawrence Ward in 1860 and St. David's Ward in 1863, 1867 and 1868. In 1864 he ran in the election for Mayor of Toronto in opposition to the incumbent mayor John George Bowes. Medcalf was supported by a coalition of Orangemen, Conservatives and Liberals and won the mayoralty. He won again by a large majority in 1865 and ran unopposed in 1866. Between 1867 and 1873, the mayor was selected by Toronto City Council rather than by popular vote, but when the electoral system was restored in 1874 he was re-elected for another two terms until he was defeated by the Conservative member Angus Morrison in 1876. |
Francis Henry Medcalf
St. James Cemetery in Toronto, Ontario
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He also ran for election in 1871 in the Toronto East district, but was defeated by Matthew Crooks Cameron.
Francis' nickname in politics was "Old Squaretoes", a reference to his foundry work boots, an image he used to promote his "rags-to-riches story". One of his most significant achievements during his time in office was in the development of the Cabbagetown fire department in Toronto.
Francis passed away in Toronto on May 26th, 1880 at the age of 77. His burial service was held at Little Trinity Anglican Church on King Street just east of Parliament Street. For the service, County Master E.F.Clarke draped the banner of McKinley Loyal Orange Lodge No. 275 over his casket. He was laid to rest at St. James Cemetery in Toronto.
Medcalf Hall, the main meeting room of the County Orange hall in Toronto is named in his honour.
Source: With information from John Wells, County Secretary; Wikipedia.ca and biographi.ca.
Francis' nickname in politics was "Old Squaretoes", a reference to his foundry work boots, an image he used to promote his "rags-to-riches story". One of his most significant achievements during his time in office was in the development of the Cabbagetown fire department in Toronto.
Francis passed away in Toronto on May 26th, 1880 at the age of 77. His burial service was held at Little Trinity Anglican Church on King Street just east of Parliament Street. For the service, County Master E.F.Clarke draped the banner of McKinley Loyal Orange Lodge No. 275 over his casket. He was laid to rest at St. James Cemetery in Toronto.
Medcalf Hall, the main meeting room of the County Orange hall in Toronto is named in his honour.
Source: With information from John Wells, County Secretary; Wikipedia.ca and biographi.ca.