John Dryden (MLA)
| John Dryden | |
|---|---|
| Ontario MPP | |
|
In office 1898–1904 |
|
| Preceded by | Charles Calder |
| Succeeded by | Charles Calder |
|
In office 1879–1898 |
|
| Preceded by | Nicholas W. Brown |
| Succeeded by | Charles Calder |
| Constituency | Ontario South |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
June 5, 1840 Whitby Township, Upper Canada |
| Died | July 29, 1909 (aged 69) Toronto, Ontario |
| Political party | Liberal |
| Spouse(s) | Mary Lydia Holman (m. 1867) |
| Children | 8 |
| Occupation | Farmer |
John Dryden (June 5, 1840 – July 29, 1909) was a farmer and politician in Ontario, Canada.
Dryden was the son of James Dryden (1820–1881), a farmer, businessman and politician. The senior Dryden owned a successful farm near Winchester (later Brooklin), was a Reeve of Whitby Township, President of the Port Whitby and Port Perry Railway and a director of the Ontario Bank. Educated in nearby Whitby, John Dryden became the manager of his father's farm, doubling its size. He also became an expert breeder of sheep, horses, and cattle, and served in a leadership role in many agricultural and animal husbandry organizations.
Dryden married Mary Lydia Holman in 1867. They had three sons (two of whom died in infancy) and five daughters.
Dryden's political career began in the local arena; in 1863, he was elected to the Whitby Township council, becoming Reeve in 1869 and 1870. In 1879, he was elected to the Legislative Assembly of Ontario as the Liberal member for the provincial Ontario South riding. He served in this capacity until 1905.
In 1890, Premier Oliver Mowat appointed Dryden Minister of Agriculture. As Minister, he oversaw reforms at the Ontario Agricultural College and was a strong supporter of agricultural training and instruction. He implemented a program of 'travelling dairies' whereby a portable horse-drawn dairy toured rural Ontario providing instruction to farmers. He also established dairy schools at Strathroy and Kingston. These measures were designed to improve the quality of dairy products produced in Ontario in an environment characterised by American tariffs and export challenges. Dryden remained minister through the governments of Mowat, Arthur Sturgis Hardy and George William Ross.
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